Luis Figo

Luis Figo was voted world and European player of the year, won four Spanish and four Italian titles, won the Champions League, and played 127 times for Portugal, helping them to the 2006 World Cup semi-final and the Euro 2004 final. He must be spitting nails then that he is possibly most famous for a savage transfer wrangle that saw him become Real Madrid's first Galactico in 2000, a signing so gut-wrenching for Barcelona fans it is best to avoid mentioning him in the Catalan capital. Born into a modest family near Lisbon in November 1972 he made his debut for Sporting at age 17 and became a key member of the so called 'Golden Generation' that included Rui Costa and which won the Under-20's World Cup in 1991. With a single Portuguese Cup to his name the brilliant right winger left Lisbon for Johan Cruyff's Barcelona in 1995 where his turn of pace, dribbling, vision, strength, passing and eye for goal established him as a world class player and won him the vice-captain's role. Figo's guts and charisma, as part of the team which included Ronaldo and Pep Guardiola and which beat PSG 1-0 in the 1997 Cup Winners' Cup final and also won two League titles (1998, 1999), made him an adored figure by the Barcelona faithful. The fans loved him so much that when Figo agreed to transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid (for a then record 56 million Euros) the sense of betrayal shook the club to its foundations. At Euro 96 Portugal made the quarter-finals and although they missed out on the 1998 World Cup, Figo and co simply dazzled at Euro 2000. They saw off Turkey 2-0 in the quarters but were beaten by a controversial golden-goal Zinedine Zidane penalty in the semi-final, shaming themselves with bad behavior in their agony. The upshot however was that Figo was awarded the European player of the year award for 2000 and Portugal became a side to be reckoned with. Fifa rewarded Figo with their world player of the year award in 2001 after he helped Madrid to win the league which preceded their triumph in the 2002 Champions League final. An ankle injury saw Figo limp through a sad, insipid first round exit at the 2002 World Cup. Back at Madrid with Galactico number three Ronaldo on board Real won the title again in 2003. Euro 2004 was hosted by Portugal, who could now also boast the talents of the emerging Cristiano Ronaldo and the conscript Deco, but could not stop dark horses Greece edging them to the title with a 1-0 win in the final. Ambitious Inter Milan recruited a 32-year-old Figo in 2005 and he was to claim four straight Serie A titles with them before joining their back-room staff, often sitting next to Jose Mourinho on the bench, including twice at the Nou Camp, in their Champions League winning campaign in 2010. Figo's swansong as a player was the 2006 World Cup, where coach Luiz Felipe Scolari lured him out of international retirement and a glorious run to the semi-finals where however another controversial Zidane penalty was the end of the line. Real de Madrid Portuguese Luis Figo holds the gold ball before a League match between Real Madrid and Oviedo in Barnabeu stadium in Madrid 14 january 2001. Luis Figo of Barcelona harangues the crowd in a Champions League quarter-final return match against Chelsea in Camp Nou stadium at Barcelone 18 April 2000. electronic image Portugal's Luis Figo (L) vies with Estonia's Urmas Rooba (R) during their World Cup 2006 qualifier football match at the A. le Coq Arena in Tallinn 08 June 2005. AFP PHOTO/ NICOLAS ASFOURI Real Madrid players (L to R) David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Raul Gonzalez, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo congratulate each other after scoring against a Hong Kong Select side at Hong Kong Stadium, 08 August 2003. Real Madrid are in Hong Kong on the third leg of a four-nation Asian tour. Real won the match 4-2 AFP PHOTO/RICHARD A BROOKS Portuguese captain Luís Figo walks past the trophy after receiving his runners up medal ,04 July 2004 at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, after the European Nations championship final football match between Portugal and Greece. Greece won 1-0.AFP PHOTO Vincenzo PINTO Portuguese forward Luís Figo (R) is about to kick the ball next to Greek midfielder Theodoros Zagorakis, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, during the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations football championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Lluis GENE Inter Milan's players celebrates after winning their Italian SuperCup football match against AS Roma at San Siro Stadium in Milan 26 August 2006. Inter Milan came back from 3-0 down to clinch the Italian Super Cup in extra-time with a 4-3 win over Roma. AFP PHOTO / PACO SERINELLI France's Zinedine Zidane(L) tries to dribble past Portuguese Luis Figo during the World Cup 2006 semi final football game Portugal vs. France, 05 July 2006 at Munich stadium. France defeated Portugal 1-0 and will play the final against Italy on July 09, 2006 in Berlin. AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS ASFOURI