"I developed my skills on the street"

Original article from France Football, published in March, 2026.

We had been led to expect a gruff, almost unfriendly character, someone reluctant to engage in interviews. What we encountered was the complete opposite. Meeting at a hotel in Paris just hours before the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, we found an affable man, happy to open up his box of memories, and unafraid to tackle the one thorny question: his "transfer of the century" from FC Barcelona to Real Madrid in the summer of 2000.

Recap: At the time, Luis Figo was the Blaugrana star, the player who wreaked havoc on opposing defenses on the right flank of the Catalan attack. His release clause, an Iberian specialty, was set at 10 billion pesetas (just over €60 million today, a record at the time), a sum that seemed unattainable. However, Florentino Pérez, a candidate in the Real Madrid presidential election, promised to bring the star player to the Spanish capital if he was elected.

Lighters, Oranges, and a Pig's Head

Luís Figo's agent, Paulo Futre, saw the interest from Real Madrid as a golden opportunity to renegotiate his client's salary with Barça. However, Barcelona president Josep Lluís Núñez and his right-hand man, Joan Gaspart, refused to budge, and the situation took a dramatic turn. The Portuguese star signed a pre-contract with Real Madrid, which was automatically activated when Florentino Pérez was elected president of the club.

The Catalan media and supporters unleashed their fury, viewing the move as an act of "high treason." When Figo returned to Camp Nou in a Real Madrid shirt on October 21, 2000, he was met with a chorus of boos from nearly one hundred thousand spectators, starting from the warm-up. Banners labeled him a "pesetero" (mercenary), "traitor," "Judas," and "scum." Coins, lighters, and oranges were hurled in his direction.

Figo tried to block it out, covering his ears as the deafening noise repeatedly hit 112 decibels—the equivalent of a jet engine at takeoff. Two years later, during another Clásico at Europe's largest stadium on November 23, 2002, the hostility reached a new low. As he prepared to take a corner, a pig's head landed near him on the pitch.

He can almost smile about it now, but at the time, Figo was deeply affected by these events. "In the days leading up to the match [in 2000], the press had fanned the flames of hostility," the 51-year-old recalls. "They crossed the line by going after my family. I was just trying to focus on the game, but I was obviously worried for them. It wasn't a positive example for football, but it made me mature."

Just before Christmas, on December 19, 2000, Luís Figo was awarded the France Football Ballon d'Or, finishing eighteen points ahead of Zinedine Zidane, who had led France to victory at Euro 2000 that same year, notably eliminating Portugal in the semi-finals.

While Zidane had been the overwhelming favorite to win his second Ballon d'Or, his chances were dashed by a headbutt on a Hamburg player during a Champions League match in November, which occurred during the voting period. The concept of fair play clearly weighed heavily on the minds of the jurors.

2000 Ballon d'Or Rankings

1. Luís Figo (POR, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid), 197 points
2. Zinedine Zidane (FRA, Juventus), 181 pts
3. Andriy Shevchenko (UKR, AC Milan), 85 pts
4. Thierry Henry (FRA, Arsenal), 57 pts
5. Alessandro Nesta (ITA, Lazio), 39 pts
5. Rivaldo (BRA, FC Barcelona), 39 pts
7. Gabriel Batistuta (ARG, Fiorentina, AS Roma), 26 pts
8. Gaizka Mendieta (ESP, Valencia CF), 22 pts
9. Raúl (ESP, Real Madrid), 18 pts
10. David Beckham (ENG, Manchester United), 10 pts
10. Paolo Maldini (ITA, AC Milan), 10 pts

On January 14, 2001, Luís Figo stood on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu before a match against Real Oviedo. Surrounded by Real Madrid legends Alfredo Di Stéfano (winner in 1957, 1959) and Raymond Kopa (1958), as well as his compatriot Eusébio (1965), he was presented with the prestigious Ballon d'Or trophy by Gérard Ernault, the editorial director of France Football.

"It was a very, very special moment," the Portuguese star recalls. "I felt it was recognition for everything I had done since I started in football—the work, the dedication, and the passion I put into it. It was a great source of pride, an honor to receive that award. Twenty-five years later, people still talk to me about it, which just shows how unique a trophy it is."

"I developed my skills on the street, in one-on-ones, and in futsal."

Figo's love affair with the ball began in the working-class neighborhood of Cova da Piedade in Almada, a city across the Tagus estuary from Lisbon. "Back then, we played a lot in the street; there weren't really any training centers," explains the only child. "We made goals out of whatever we could find and played one-on-one. I also sometimes played in a small futsal gym nearby. That's how I developed my skills."

At eleven, he joined Os Pastilhas, a small local club, where he split his time between futsal during the week and 11-a-side football on weekends. "We had a lot of fun, even if we didn't win often," he smiles. "The following year, the club shut down due to a lack of funds, and I went to try my luck at Sporting."

Player Profile

Name: Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo
Born: November 4, 1972, in Almada, Portugal
Position: Attacking Midfielder / Right Winger
International Career: 127 caps for Portugal (32 goals)
Clubs: Sporting CP (1990–1995), FC Barcelona (1995–2000), Real Madrid (2000–2005), Inter Milan (2005–2009)
Major Honors: Champions League (2002); Cup Winners' Cup (1997); UEFA Super Cup (1997, 2002); Intercontinental Cup (2002); La Liga (1998, 1999, 2001, 2003); Serie A (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009); Copa del Rey (1997, 1998); Coppa Italia (2006); Portuguese Cup (1995); Spanish Super Cup (1996, 2001, 2003); Italian Super Cup (2006, 2008); FIFA U-20 World Cup (1991); UEFA U-16 Championship (1989).

Inspired by his countryman Paulo Futre, as well as Zico and, "obviously," Diego Maradona, Figo established himself on the right wing of the youth teams at Sporting, known as the Leões (Lions). He was handed his senior debut at just seventeen. It was there he honed the technical skill and explosive pace that would make him so elusive. His trademark became his indecipherable short feints along the touchline and his pinpoint crosses.

The Blaugrana Years

After five seasons at Sporting yielded just one major trophy (the 1995 Portuguese Cup), Figo was courted by several of Europe's top clubs. He found himself at the center of a high-profile transfer saga just as the Bosman ruling was changing the landscape of football. He now offers his version of the tangled events.

"My contract with Sporting was ending. The directors had promised me an extension, but nothing materialized," he explains. "Juventus made me an offer, and we signed a pre-contract. At that point, Parma offered me a 'real' contract. I signed with them, but in parallel, Juve had our pre-contract validated, so I found myself committed to both clubs." The result was a FIFA sanction that banned him from playing in the Italian league for the next two years.

Barcelona, lying in wait, swooped in to win the prize. "It was simply destiny," Figo states. "I loved the 'Dream Team,' even though that era was coming to an end. The club was rebuilding its squad, and I was drawn to the project and very happy to join."

While Ronald Koeman, Romario, and Hristo Stoichkov had just departed and Johan Cruyff would be forced out a year later, the Portuguese star still found immense success. He notably won the Cup Winners' Cup alongside Brazil's Ronaldo in 1997 (a 1-0 victory over PSG), as well as two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies.

"I had a mix of anger and resentment at Barça. The bitterness grew, and I ended up signing for Real."

"I spent five wonderful years in Barcelona," he insists, his dark hair still slicked back. "My eldest daughter was born there, I won titles, I matured, and I gained prestige. Part of my Ballon d'Or is linked to my time at Barcelona." The other part, of course, is as white as the Real Madrid jersey he would famously wear after joining as the first Galáctico in the summer of 2000.

Why would a player leave a club where he was adored to join its sworn enemy? For Luís Figo, the decision to swap Barcelona for Real Madrid was driven by a sense of being undervalued. "I left because I felt that the Barça management didn't recognize my true worth," he explained. "I received the offer from Real while I was feeling a mix of anger and resentment. The snowball just kept getting bigger, and I ended up signing for Madrid."

At Real Madrid, Figo became a cornerstone of the "Galácticos" era. He was joined by Zinedine Zidane in 2001, Ronaldo the following year, David Beckham in 2003, and Michael Owen in 2004. Together, they conquered Europe, winning the 2002 Champions League and two La Liga titles, among other honors. "Playing in that team was a unique experience," the former winger recalled. "Bringing the best players in the world together in one team was simply extraordinary. We won everything. Everyone knew their role, and we got along very well. In fact, we are still friends today."

A Move to Inter and the Heartbreak of 2004

In 2005, approaching his 33rd birthday, Figo decided to join Inter Milan, a decade after a potential move to Italy first fell through. "I was playing less at Madrid," he noted, despite making 43 appearances in his final season in Spain. "I felt I could still perform at the highest level, and Inter welcomed me with open arms, respect, and affection. I spent four magnificent years there, just as the club started winning again after seventeen years without a Scudetto."

With the Nerazzurri, he added four consecutive Serie A titles to his trophy cabinet (the first, in 2006, was awarded following the "Calciopoli" scandal). During his farewell match at the Giuseppe Meazza against Atalanta, his teammate Javier Zanetti handed him the captain's armband as a sign of respect.

When Figo was substituted just before halftime, the man with 229 career club assists received a standing ovation. Players from both teams came to pay their respects, and José Mourinho embraced him in the center circle, turning the match into a tribute. "It was very emotional," he admitted.

When asked about the toughest defenders he ever faced, Figo listed some of the era's greats. "I was lucky enough to play against the best. Off the top of my head, I'd say Roberto Carlos, Paolo Maldini, and Bixente Lizarazu... I played against him quite a few times, whether he was with Athletic Bilbao or the French national team. He was a full-back who was tough in the tackle and very fast, but we always competed with respect and admiration."

"France often stopped us. But I think we laid the groundwork for future victories."

And what about the teammates who left the biggest impression? "There was Krassimir Balakov at Sporting, Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, Raul and Fernando Hierro at Madrid, and Javier Zanetti and Juan Sebastián Verón at Inter," he listed. "I always got along with everyone. For me, those friendships are the most beautiful trophies."

Despite winning the U-16 European Championship in 1989 and the U-20 World Cup two years later with Portugal's "Golden Generation" alongside Rui Costa and João Pinto, Figo never won a major senior international title. "France often stopped us," he said with a smile, referencing semi-final defeats at Euro 2000 and the 2006 World Cup. "But I think we laid the groundwork for future victories. Our work probably enabled the next generations to win the Euros in 2016 and the Nations League."

The most painful moment was undoubtedly the 2004 European Championship final, where host nation Portugal suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Greece. "I'm happy with the journey we had, but sad about the result," lamented the man who earned 127 caps for the Seleção between 1991 and 2006. "We united the entire country around the national team that summer. In 2006, we lost the semi-final by a whisker, on a penalty. That's football."

Before him, Eusébio was considered Portugal's greatest player. After him, Cristiano Ronaldo took up the mantle, winning five Ballons d'Or. Together, the three form a "Holy Trinity" of Portuguese football. When asked about his place on that podium, Figo, the national team's fourth all-time leading scorer with 32 goals, remained humble. "Portugal is my homeland. Representing my country has always been an honor and a pleasure. If people associate me with Cristiano and Eusébio, it's because I did what was necessary during my career. I don't claim anything. History is there; you can't erase it."

Now an advisor to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, Luís Figo divides his time between several key roles. He contributes to various commissions within the European football body, focusing on the game's technical aspects, rules, and overall appeal. Beyond football, he manages his own clothing and sunglasses brand, runs a foundation dedicated to improving living conditions for vulnerable youth, and enjoys time with his family and his other passion, golf.

Figo supports the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, a change that will be implemented for the first time this summer. Some speculate that he harbors ambitions to lead UEFA, following a path similar to Michel Platini. However, Figo deflects such suggestions. "I give my opinion on the game and the competitions," counters the man who withdrew his FIFA presidential candidacy at the last minute in 2015. "I am always available to help improve my sport."

After our interview, he warmly embraced Andrés Iniesta, a player he watched rise through the ranks at La Masia during his time at Barcelona. The reunion took place under the watchful eye of his friend, former Real Madrid star Predrag Mijatović, who finished second in the 1997 Ballon d'Or voting. Later that evening, at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Figo was one of the few Real Madrid figures present at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, seated next to former Blaugrana Hristo Stoichkov, the 1994 winner.

Such is the life of a man who left an indelible mark on Spain's two greatest clubs and claimed football's most prestigious individual trophy in the same year he stunned the football world with his controversial transfer.