Luis FIGO

Skill imagination leadership courage Luis FIGO had it all a hero in his home country and to millions across Europe. Luis FIGO was the captain of his country winner of Europe’s highest honors and the subject of the most controversial transfer in modern football history. Few players move between the most bitter of rivals he was still could cope with the pressure from all sides for the summer of 2000s once such transfer move that shocked the football world. Had it involved a lesser player the transfer might have caused only a minor ripple because the player in question was Luis FIGO Barcelona best player the holder of Ballon D’or and he signed for Barcelona greatest rivals. Luis FIGO was born in November 1972 ALMADA near Portuguese capital Lisbon he played for several local teams before impressing visiting scouts from Sporting Lisbon who invited him to done the famous green and white jersey. The young winger blossomed at sporting progressing rapidly through the ranks in 1990s still a teenager he made his first team debut. FIGO won his first club championship in 1995 but when a proposed move to Italy fell through that summer he was snapped up by the Catalan giants Barcelona.

Once in Barcelona FIGO wasted no time endearing to the fans scoring nine goals in his debut season he quickly became the heartbeat of the side and as such was targeted by the opposition. The team excelled as did FIGO running from deep at and frequently past the opposition the Portuguese terrified defenses often capping his runs with devastating displays of his own finishing. Victory in the 1997 UEFA cup winners cup was followed by successive Spanish league titles in 1998-99 FIGO was handed the captain’s armband for his efforts and in 2000 was named the Portuguese footballer of the season for a sixth consecutive year. Even more impressively he won the prestigious Ballon D’or.

Controversy lay ahead despite having won the Champions league just a few months earlier club President Lorenzo Sanz was defeated in the Real Madrid presidential elections by Florentino Perez whose Campaign hinged on one promise to bring Luis FIGO to Real Madrid. And he delieverd FIGO arrived for a fee of 61m Euros.

In Catalonia supporters and players were completely stunned. In October 2000 FIGO’S first return to the Camp Nou was a major news story 100,000 people channeled their aggression towards one man for once El Clasico the football and the result seemed inconsequential FIGO has even spared the responsibility of taking corners for fear of being hit by missiles. Madrid’s faith in FIGO reaped rewards however he helped his side to the league title in his first season and then received the prestigious FIGO World player of the year award. His good form continued during in his second season in Real Madrid alongside the latest Galactico Zinedine Zidane he made the transition from out and out winger to a more central role the Portuguese became more involved in dictating the play for Real Madrid. FIGO scored three times in Champions league as real Madrid reached the 2002 final. Bayer Leverkusen were beaten by 2-1 in Glasgow and FIGO was finally a European cup winner. FIGO and real Madrid the competitive nature of El Clasico and the bitter rivalry between the Spain’s two biggest clubs ensured was not always plain sailing Madrid and FIGO returned to the Camp Nou in November 2002. Unfazed FIGO played a key role in Madrid title win that season his ten goals and numerous assists were central to the Galacticos pinching another championship.

1 year later he would captained his country as Portugal hosted euro 2004. At international level FIGO had been a young prodigy the leader of Portugal’s golden generation he  won the FIFA under 16 world cup in 1989 and followed that triumph with the under 20 title two years later. Having impressed youth level he made his full international debut age just 18 and went on to a mass 127 appearances for his country scoring 32 goals along the way. As host of euro 2004 Portugal were one of the favourites FIGO was named captain as a nation waited to see if the golden generation would finally mature as an international force. FIGO and his teammates fell just short Portugal suffered a shock defeat in the final at the hands of GREECE after which FIGO retired from international football. But he soon reversed his decision and let his country to a world cup semi-final in 2006 Portugal’s best finish in 40 years.

A club level FIGO took up new challenge in 2005 swapping real Madrid for Inter Milan. He continued to showcase his talent not least in the Champions league and helped inter win four consecutive league titles. On the day Inter Milan secured their four consecutive league titles Luis FIGO announced his retirement from football.