Figo joined Sporting Clube Portugal when he was 11 and made his debut with the club's first team at just 16. He earned his first international cap in 1991 and has won the Under-20 World Championships with Portugal and the Under-16 European Championships.
His transfer in 2000 from FC Barcelona team to arch-rivals Real Madrid, for a record-breaking £37,000,000 only intensified the great animosity between the clubs.
He was 2001 FIFA Football (Soccer) Player of the Year and is arguably one of the great all-time players.
See also: List of footballers (soccer)