Luís Figo
Winger · Sporting CP · Portugal
About Luís Figo
Luís Figo is Portugal's greatest player of the pre-Ronaldo era and the central figure of one of football's most shocking transfers. His move from Barcelona (ESP) to Real Madrid in 2000 for a world-record £37m created a hatred so intense that Barcelona (ESP) fans threw a pig's head at him when he returned to the Camp Nou. He was the 2000 Ballon d'Or winner and helped establish the Galácticos era at Real Madrid.
Luís Figo's story
Almada to the World
Figo grew up in Almada across the Tagus river from Lisbon (POR) and joined Sporting CP's academy at 11. He left for Barcelona (ESP) aged 22 and became one of the world's best wingers within two seasons. His ability to beat defenders with pace and precision made him impossible to handle.
The Transfer That Shocked the World
In 2000, Barcelona (ESP) president Joan Gaspart offered Figo's agent a contract. Real Madrid's Florentino Pérez then used a clause in Spanish football law to match it and force the transfer. Barcelona (ESP) fans were incandescent — when Figo returned to the Camp Nou with Madrid (ESP) in 2002, fans threw objects including a pig's head onto the pitch.
Galáctico Era
At Real Madrid he became part of the Galácticos alongside Zidane, Ronaldo, and Beckham. They won La Liga in 2001 and 2003 and the Champions League in 2002. He later moved to Inter where he won three consecutive Serie A titles. He retired in 2009 with 127 international caps — then a record for Portugal.
Did you know?
- 🐷 When Figo returned to the Camp Nou with Real Madrid in 2002, Barcelona fans threw objects onto the pitch — including a pig's head. He took the corner anyway.
- 💰 His £37m transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 was a world record and one of the most politically charged transfers in football history.
- 👨👩👧👦 Married Swedish model Helen Svedin; they have three daughters: Daniela, Martina, and Stella. The family settled in Switzerland.
- 🌍 He ran for the FIFA Presidency in 2015 against Sepp Blatter, eventually withdrawing when it became clear the campaign was not fairly regulated.
- 📊 He made 127 appearances for Portugal — the national record at the time of his retirement in 2006 — over a 15-year international career.
- ⚡ In his peak years at Barcelona (1997-2000), Figo was rated by UEFA as the best winger in Europe for three consecutive seasons.
- 🤝 Despite the acrimony of his Barcelona departure, Figo has maintained a warm relationship with the city and regularly returns for charity events there.
- 🎖️ He was named in Portugal's greatest ever XI by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2015 — as the greatest right winger the country has produced.
- 🏅 Pelé named him in the FIFA 100 in 2004 — the only Portuguese player alongside Eusébio in the list.
Honours
- La Liga x4: Barcelona (1996, 1998, 1999), Real Madrid (2001, 2003)
- UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid (2002)
- Serie A x3: Inter Milan (2007, 2008, 2009)
- Ballon d'Or: 2000
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2001
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