Luís Figo
Who was Luís Figo?
Portuguese winger who won the Ballon d'Or in 2000 and played for Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan during his career.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Luís Figo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo was born on November 4, 1972, in Lisbon, Portugal. He is considered one of the best wingers in football history, known for his outstanding technical skills, speed, accurate crossing, and vision. Figo advanced from the youth system of Sporting CP and became a highly sought-after attacking player in Europe during his career in Spain and Italy.
Before Fame
Growing up in Lisbon during the 1970s and 1980s, Figo honed his football skills in the youth academy of Sporting CP, one of Portugal's most famous clubs. He made his senior debut for Sporting and quickly stood out as a talented and fast winger, catching the eye of top European clubs. His performances for both Sporting and the Portuguese youth national teams showed he was a rare talent, leading to a move to Barcelona in 1995 that would boost his international fame.
Key Achievements
- Won the 2000 Ballon d'Or, the sport's most prestigious individual award
- Named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001
- Set a then-world record transfer fee of €62 million when moving from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000
- Won four La Liga titles, four Serie A titles, and one UEFA Champions League during his club career
- Led Portugal to the final of UEFA Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Did You Know?
- 01.Figo's transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 set a world record fee of €62 million, a move that made him one of the most controversial figures in Spanish football.
- 02.During his first return to Camp Nou as a Real Madrid player, Figo was pelted by objects thrown from the crowd, including a pig's head, reflecting the intense hostility Barcelona fans directed at him.
- 03.Figo won 127 caps for the Portugal national team, which was a national record at the time of his retirement.
- 04.He was included in Pelé's FIFA 100 list in 2004, a selection of the 125 greatest living footballers, putting him in elite company.
- 05.Figo's transfer to Real Madrid came about partly through a conditional agreement he signed with Florentino Pérez during the latter's presidential campaign; if Pérez won the election and Figo refused to move, Figo would owe a penalty of approximately 5 billion pesetas.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ballon d'Or | 2000 | — |
| FIFA World Player of the Year | 2001 | — |
| CNID Footballer of the Year | — | — |
| FIFA 100 | — | — |
| UEFA Team of the Year | — | — |
| Officer of the Order of Prince Henry | — | — |