Luís Figo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Luís Figo

Figo in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth	(1972-11-04) 4 November 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth	Almada, Portugal
Height	1.80 m
Playing position	Winger
Youth career
1984–1985	Os Pastilhas
1985–1989	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1989–1995	Sporting CP	129	(16)
1995–2000	Barcelona	172	(30)
2000–2005	Real Madrid	164	(38)
2005–2009	Inter Milan	105	(9)
Total		570	(93)
National team
1991–2006	Portugal	127	(32)
Honours Men's football Representing  Portugal FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner 1991 Portugal UEFA European Under-16 Championship Winner 1989 Denmark UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2004 Portugal UEFA European Under-21 Championship Runner-up 1994 France UEFA European Under-18 Championship Runner-up 1990 Hungary FIFA U-17 World Cup Third 1989 Scotland
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Luís Figo (born 4 November 1972) is a famous Portuguese former professional footballer. He played as a winger for top clubs like Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan. He also played 127 games for the Portugal national team, which was a record for a while. Many people think Figo is one of the best players of his time and one of the greatest wingers ever.

Figo won many big awards, including the 2000 Ballon d'Or and the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year. In 2004, the legendary player Pelé even put him on the FIFA 100 list of the world's best living players. Figo is one of the few players who played for both rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. His move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 was very surprising and cost a world record €62 million.

Figo had a very successful career, winning many trophies. These include the Portuguese Cup, four La Liga titles, and a UEFA Champions League title. He also won four Serie A titles in Italy. For Portugal, he scored 32 goals. He played in three European Championships and two World Cups. He helped Portugal reach the final of Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup.

Early Years: How Figo Started Playing Football

Luís Figo was the only child of António Caeiro Figo and Maria Joana Pestana Madeira. His family moved to Lisbon in the early 1970s. Figo grew up in a working-class area called Cova da Piedade, Almada.

He started playing football on the streets for a local team called Os Pastilhas. When he was 12, he joined the youth academy of Sporting CP. As a young player, Figo also played futsal. This helped him learn many skills that he used later in his professional career.

Club Career: Playing for Top Teams

Sporting CP: His First Club

Figo began his professional career at Sporting CP. He played his first league game on 2 April 1990. This was during the 1989–90 season. He came on as a substitute in a 1–0 win against Marítimo.

On 7 December 1991, Figo scored his first goal for Sporting. This was in the 1991–92 season against Torreense. He helped Sporting win 2–1. In 1991, he also played his first game for the senior national team. Before that, he won the 1991 FIFA Under-20 World Championships. He also won the Under-16 European Championships with Portugal's junior teams. He was part of Portugal's special "Golden Generation" of players. In his last season at Sporting, he won the Portuguese Cup in 1995.

Barcelona: Becoming a Star

In 1995, Figo was ready to join a big European club. There was a problem because he had signed contracts with two Italian clubs, Juventus and Parma. This meant he couldn't transfer to an Italian club for two years.

So, Figo moved to the Spanish giant Barcelona for £2.25 million. His career really took off at Barcelona. He helped them win the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He also won two Primera División titles in a row. He was a key player in a strong attack with Rivaldo and Patrick Kluivert. Figo played 172 league games for Barcelona and scored 30 goals. Fans in Barcelona loved him because he brought a lot of pride to the region.

Real Madrid: The Big Transfer

In July 2000, Figo made a very surprising and controversial move. He joined Barcelona's biggest rivals, Real Madrid. Real Madrid paid €62 million, which was a new world record fee. His arrival started the "Galáctico era" at Madrid. This was when Real Madrid signed many global star players each year.

Figo's move made the Barcelona–Real Madrid rivalry even more intense. Barcelona fans felt very upset and betrayed by his transfer. He was a star player and a leader at Barcelona. One of his former teammates said, "Our plan was simple: give the ball to Luís. He never, ever hid." Even though he was now with Real Madrid, he won the Ballon d'Or award in November 2000. This was mostly because of his amazing performances for Barcelona.

When Figo first returned to Barcelona in a Real Madrid shirt on 21 October 2000, the stadium was incredibly loud. Fans held banners with words like "Traitor" and "Judas." They booed him constantly. When he ran onto the field, the noise from almost 98,000 Barcelona fans grew even louder. Figo looked shocked and put his fingers in his ears. During the game, every time Figo touched the ball, the noise got louder. Fans threw things like oranges, bottles, and mobile phones onto the field. Figo, who usually took corners for Madrid, did not take any that day to avoid being close to the fans. Barcelona won the game 2–0.

Figo's 2000 Ballon d'Or. He won this award for his great performances for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

In his first season with Madrid, Figo helped them win the 2001 La Liga title. He scored 14 goals that season. For his great play at Real, he was named the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year. In the next season, Madrid won the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League.

Figo's second game back at Camp Nou, on 23 November 2002, created a famous moment in the Barcelona–Real Madrid rivalry. The fans' anger had not gone away. Every time he came near the Barcelona fans, they threw beer cans, lighters, bottles, and golf balls. Figo said, "I was worried that some madman might lose his head." This time, Figo decided to take corners. During the second half, Madrid got a corner. Amidst a shower of objects, it took Figo two minutes to take the corner. Another corner followed, and as Figo walked across, he picked up some of the thrown items. He even gave an ironic thumbs-up and smiled. Each time he tried to take the corner, another object would land. The referee stopped the game for almost 20 minutes. During this break, a pig's head was seen among the items near the corner flag. This became a defining image of the rivalry.

Figo played five seasons at Madrid. His last big win there was the 2003 La Liga title. In 2013, a sports newspaper called Marca named Figo as one of the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history."

Inter Milan: Finishing His Career

Figo in 2009. He played four seasons for Inter Milan from 2005 to 2009.

Figo left Real Madrid to join the Italian club Inter Milan in 2005. He moved on a free transfer because his contract with Madrid had ended. This meant Figo finally got to play for a club in Italy.

In 2008, Figo's fellow Portuguese, José Mourinho, became Inter's manager. This made Figo happy, as he would have more Portuguese teammates. On 16 May 2009, Figo announced he would retire from football. This was the same day Inter won the 2008–09 title. His last game was on 31 May against Atalanta. At the request of his teammate Javier Zanetti, Figo was captain for his final match. He received a standing ovation from the crowd when he was substituted. His most memorable moment in Italy was a free-kick he scored against Roma in the Supercoppa Italiana.

Figo's number 7 Inter jersey next to Ronaldo (number 10) and Zamorano (one plus eight) in the San Siro museum

Figo said, "I am leaving football, not Inter." He also said, "I hope to be able to help this club to become even greater after my retirement. I will certainly work for Inter in the future on the club board." He was on the sidelines when Inter won the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League in 2010.

International Career: Playing for Portugal

Early International Games

Figo as captain of Portugal in 2005

Figo was a leader of Portugal's "Golden Generation." He won a FIFA World Youth Championship in 1991. In the same year, he played his first senior game for Portugal. This was against Luxembourg on 16 October 1991. He was only 18 years old.

His first goal for Portugal was in a 2–1 friendly win over Bulgaria in Paris in 1992. Figo scored three goals in eight games to help Portugal qualify for UEFA Euro 1996. This was the first time in 12 years Portugal reached the tournament. In a group game against Croatia, Figo scored the first goal in a 3–0 victory. This result sent Portugal to the quarter-finals.

Euro 2000 and 2002 World Cup

Figo played in all ten of Portugal's qualifying games for the next European Championship. He scored three goals during these games. On 12 June 2000, in their first game of the tournament, he scored Portugal's first goal. They came from behind to beat England 3–2. Portugal again won their group and reached the semi-finals.

With six goals in nine matches, Figo helped Portugal qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. On 2 June 2001, he was captain for the first time in a qualifier against the Republic of Ireland. He scored the goal that made it a 1–1 draw. In their first World Cup since 1986, Portugal was eliminated in the group stage. Figo did not score any goals in this tournament.

Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup

On 18 February 2004, Figo played his 100th game for Portugal. It was a 1–1 friendly draw with England. He was captain, even though the regular captain was also playing. Later that year, at the European Championship in Portugal, he captained the team.

Figo playing against Mexico at the 2006 World Cup

Figo announced he was retiring from international football after Portugal lost the Euro 2004 final to Greece. This was due to a disagreement with the coach, but he denied it. In June 2005, he changed his mind and returned for the 2006 World Cup qualifying games.

Figo captained the team during the 2006 World Cup. He led Portugal to the semi-finals. Portugal won all three of their group games and moved to the knock-out rounds. They beat the Netherlands and then England on penalties. Figo did not take part in the penalty shootout. In the semi-final, Portugal lost to France. This was Portugal's best World Cup finish in 40 years.

In the third-place game against Germany, Figo did not start. However, he came on in the 77th minute. He was given the captain's armband back, and fans cheered. Germany scored another goal, but Figo helped set up a goal for Nuno Gomes. This was his last game for Portugal. He passed his number 7 jersey to his successor, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Even though the "Golden Generation" didn't win any major trophies, Figo led the team to their best World Cup performance since 1966. He also helped Portugal achieve their best result in the UEFA European Championship until they won it in 2016. He ended his international career with 127 games and 32 goals. He held the record for most appearances for Portugal until June 2016. He is also Portugal's fourth-highest goalscorer of all time.

Style of Play: How Figo Played

Figo is known as one of the best players of his time. He is also considered one of the greatest wingers in football history. When he was at his best, Figo was a fast, elegant, and very skilled player. He had excellent control of the ball and could quickly change direction. This allowed him to often beat defenders in one-on-one situations. He often used feints, like stepovers, to trick opponents. Even though he was naturally right-footed, he could use both feet well.

Early in his career, Figo usually played as a winger. From the right side of the field, he could send curling crosses to his teammates. He was great at providing assists. He could also move inside or link up with other midfielders to create chances to score.

As he got older, he became a bit slower. So, he started playing more as a playmaking attacking midfielder. This was especially true during his time with Inter Milan. In this role, he was excellent because of his vision and smart passing. Even though he mainly created chances for others, he could also score goals himself. He had a powerful shot from far away. He was also accurate with free-kicks and penalties. Besides his football skills, Figo was also known for his strong leadership.

Media: Figo in Commercials and Games

Figo on stage at the Web Summit in November 2016

Figo has appeared in commercials for the sports company Nike. In 1996, he was in a Nike commercial called "Good vs Evil." It showed a football game in a Roman amphitheatre. Figo and other famous players like Ronaldo and Paolo Maldini defended "the beautiful game" against a team of evil warriors.

For the 2002 World Cup, Figo was in another Nike ad called "Secret Tournament." This commercial was directed by Terry Gilliam. Figo appeared with other football stars like Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho.

Figo is also in EA Sports' FIFA video game series. He was named in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 14. In 2015, the company Konami announced that Figo would be a new "myClub Legend" in their game Pro Evolution Soccer 2016. In 2018, Figo was added as an "icon" to the Ultimate Team in FIFA 19.

He has also been on Iranian TV shows. In August 2022, Netflix released El Caso Figo (The Figo Affair). This is a documentary about his famous transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid.

FIFA Presidency Campaign: Running for Football's Top Job

On 28 January 2015, Figo announced he wanted to become the president of FIFA. FIFA is the international organization that runs football. He ran against the current president, Sepp Blatter. Famous people like José Mourinho and David Beckham supported him.

In his plan, Figo said he wanted to make the World Cup bigger, with 48 teams. He also promised to invest more money in youth football and national teams. Figo was seen as an outsider compared to Blatter. He pulled out of the election on 21 May. He said he didn't want to be part of a system that gave "absolute power" to one person.

Personal Life: Beyond Football

Figo in Madrid in 2009

Figo is married to Swedish model Helen Svedin. They have three daughters: Daniela (born 1999), Martina (born 2002), and Stella (born 2004).

While playing for Sporting, Figo finished the 11th grade of school. He completed his secondary school (12th grade) in Portugal in 2011, when he was 38. He did this through a special program for adults. He also studied business management at IESE in Madrid.

Figo speaks five languages fluently: Portuguese, Spanish, English, Italian, and French. He has also congratulated his wife in Swedish on Instagram.

Business and Charity: Giving Back

Figo is an ambassador for the Stop TB Partnership. This group works to fight tuberculosis. He also works closely with Inter Milan as an ambassador for the club. He is a board member of the Inter Campus charity project, run by Inter Milan.

In 2003, Figo started the Fundação Luís Figo (Luís Figo Foundation) in Portugal. This charity helps children with special needs and children living in poverty.

Figo also has businesses in hotels, fashion, food, mining, and wine. He co-owns a bar in Vilamoura and a hotel in Carvoeiro, both in Portugal. In 2010, he started a mining company called Damash Assets. His wife is his partner in this company.

Figo is also the founder of Network90. This is a private networking site for people in the professional football industry.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Figo goal.

List of international goals scored by Luís Figo

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	11 November 1992	Stade de Paris, Paris, France	Bulgaria	1–1	2–1	Friendly
2	9 October 1994	Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia	Latvia	3–0	3–1	UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
3	13 November 1994	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Austria	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
4	3 June 1995	Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal	Latvia	1–0	3–2	UEFA Euro 1996 qualification
5	19 June 1996	City Ground, Nottingham, England	Croatia	1–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 1996
6	9 October 1996	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania	Albania	1–0	3–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
7	7 June 1997	Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal	Albania	2–0	2–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
8	20 August 1997	Estádio do Bonfim, Setúbal, Portugal	Armenia	2–0	3–1	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
9	31 March 1999	Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein	2–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
10	18 August 1999	Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal	Andorra	3–0	4–0	Friendly
11	4 September 1999	Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan	Azerbaijan	1–1	1–1	UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
12	8 September 1999	Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania	Romania	1–1	1–1	UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
13	29 March 2000	Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal	Denmark	2–1	2–1	Friendly
14	2 June 2000	Estádio Municipal de Chaves, Chaves, Portugal	Wales	1–0	3–0	Friendly
15	12 June 2000	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	England	1–2	3–2	UEFA Euro 2000
16	16 August 2000	Estádio do Fontelo, Viseu, Portugal	Lithuania	1–0	5–1	Friendly
17	3 September 2000	Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia	Estonia	2–0	3–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
18	15 November 2000	Estádio 1º de Maio, Braga, Portugal	Israel	1–0	2–1	Friendly
19	28 February 2001	Estádio dos Barreiros, Funchal, Portugal	Andorra	2–0	3–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
20				3–0
21	28 March 2001	Estádio das Antas, Porto, Portugal	Netherlands	2–2	2–2	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
22	2 June 2001	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland	Republic of Ireland	1–1	1–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
23	15 August 2001	Estádio de São Luís, Faro, Portugal	Moldova	1–0	3–0	Friendly
24				2–0
25				3–0
26	6 October 2001	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Estonia	5–0	5–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
27	14 November 2001	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Angola	1–1	5–1	Friendly
28	2 April 2003	Stade olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland	Macedonia	1–0	1–0	Friendly
29	11 October 2003	Estádio do Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal	Albania	1–0	5–3	Friendly
30	19 November 2003	Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal	Kuwait	3–0	8–0	Friendly
31	29 May 2004	Estádio Municipal de Águeda, Águeda, Portugal	Luxembourg	1–0	3–0	Friendly
32	3 June 2006	Stade Saint-Symphorien, Metz, France	Luxembourg	3–0	3–0	Friendly

Honours: Trophies and Awards

Sporting CP

• Taça de Portugal: 1994–95

Barcelona

• La Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99
• Copa del Rey: 1996–97, 1997–98
• Supercopa de España: 1996
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1996–97
• UEFA Super Cup: 1997

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03
• Supercopa de España: 2001, 2003
• UEFA Champions League: 2001–02
• UEFA Super Cup: 2002
• Intercontinental Cup: 2002

Inter Milan

• Serie A: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
• Coppa Italia: 2005–06
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2006, 2008

Portugal

• UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 1989
• FIFA World Youth Championship: 1991
• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2004

Individual

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship Golden Player: 1994
• Portuguese Golden Ball: 1994
• Sporting CP Player of the Year: 1994
• Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
• ESM Team of the Year: 1997–98, 1999–00
• La Liga Foreign Player of the Year: 1999, 2000, 2001
• La Liga top assist provider: 1996–97, 1998–99
• Don Balón Best Foreign Player of the Year: 1999
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000, 2004
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 2000
• Ballon d'Or: 2000
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2001; silver award: 2000
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2003
• UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2004–05
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
• Inter Milan Player of the Year: 2006
• FIFA 100
• Golden Foot: 2011, as football legend
• IFFHS Legends

Orders

• Officer of the Order of Prince Henry
• Knight of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (House of Braganza)

See also

In Spanish: Luís Figo para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps