Luis Figo

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Lore & Background

Figo arrived from Barcelona in July 2000 after Real Madrid met his buyout clause, a new world record fee. Barcelona fans felt betrayed, and when he returned to the Camp Nou on 21 October 2000, the noise was deafening. Banners read "Traitor," "Judas," "Scum," and "Mercenary." Missiles including oranges, bottles, cigarette lighters, and mobile phones flew. Figo did not take any corners that night. Barcelona won 2–0. Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez said, "The atmosphere got to us all." Madrid defender Iván Campo recalled, "That night when Figo first went back was incredible. I've never heard anything like it." In his first season, Figo won the 2001 La Liga title, scoring 14 goals in all competitions, and was named 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year. The following season, Madrid won the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League. Figo's second game back at the Camp Nou, on 23 November 2002, produced the defining image: a pig's head among the debris near the corner flag. The referee suspended the game for almost 20 minutes. Figo commented, "I was worried that some madman might lose his head." His final success at Madrid was the 2003 La Liga title.

In Their Own Story

The rain at the Camp Nou on 23 November 2002 did nothing to cool the hatred. Luis Figo, now in the white of Real Madrid, walked toward the corner flag. Beer cans, lighters, bottles, and golf balls rained down. This time, he had decided he would take corners. Midway through the second half, Madrid won a corner. It took Figo two minutes to take it amid a shower of flying objects. Another corner followed on the other side. As Figo walked across, he slowed to pick up the missiles, giving an ironic thumbs-up and smiling. Every time he began his run-up, another missile landed. The referee, Luis Medina Cantalejo, suspended the game for almost 20 minutes. During the break in play, a pig's head was picked up on camera among the debris near the corner flag. Figo later said, "I was worried that some madman might lose his head."

Reader's Guide

Luis Figo played for Real Madrid from 2000 to 2005, arriving in a €62 million world-record transfer from Barcelona. His first season brought the 2001 La Liga title, and he scored 14 goals in all competitions. He was joined by Zinedine Zidane in mid-2001, and together they won the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League. Figo missed two fixtures against Barcelona through injury and suspension. His final success at Madrid was the 2003 La Liga title. In April 2013, Marca named him to the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history." Figo left Real Madrid in mid-2005 on a free transfer to join Inter Milan. His era at Madrid was defined by the Galácticos project, his Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and the intense hostility he faced from Barcelona fans during El Clásico matches at the Camp Nou.

Did You Know?

• Figo's €62 million transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 set a new world record fee.
• During his second game back at the Camp Nou on 23 November 2002, a pig's head was thrown near the corner flag, and the referee suspended the game for almost 20 minutes.
• Figo won the 2000 Ballon d'Or largely for his performances at Barcelona, before joining Real Madrid.
• In April 2013, Marca named Figo to the 'Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history.'
• Figo missed two fixtures against Barcelona through injury and suspension during his time at Real Madrid.