The football icon goes undercover in the city he calls home as he chats to GOAL about his career, future Real Madrid stars and snubbing Liverpool
Luis Figo is one of the most recognisable players on the planet, but especially in Madrid.
The Portuguese star kickstarted the so-called 'Galacticos' era in the Spanish capital with a transfer so controversial it made waves around the football world. He may have started out a Barcelona great but these days he is a certified Real Madrid legend. Indeed, it's that sort of status that makes navigating the city all the more challenging.
GOAL are in Madrid to speak to the iconic midfielder, and before we've even met, we spot his face on a giant billboard above the Plaza de Colon. Figo is one of the most recognisable Galacticos of his time, meaning he usually can't go anywhere in the city without being mobbed. But there is one way to bypass that problem.
Donning a cap and fake moustache, Figo has teamed up with Expedia Live to roam Madrid with some anonymity ahead of a huge UEFA Champions League night. That feat wasn’t so easy for him when he was a player, as despite travelling frequently he rarely got the time to explore beyond a city’s airport or the team’s stadium. When we sit down with the footballing great in the back of a taxi, he has already spent several hours seeing the city from a rare point of view – that of a fan.
From travel tips to UEFA Champions League memories, Jude Bellingham to Kylian Mbappe, Figo chats to GOAL in an exclusive interview.
ExpediaUndercover mission in Madrid
Figo's five years in Madrid were certainly not short on success. The Portugal international helped Los Blancos to their ninth European crown in 2002, eventually leaving the Spanish capital with two league titles, two Copas del Rey, two Supercopas de Espana and, of course, the 2000 Ballon d'Or under his belt. He brought unbridled joy to so many fans in Madrid, but Figo is yet to experience the city through their lens – until now.
With the city buzzing heading into Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg clash against Leipzig, he admits the feeling is a unique one. "It’s always interesting to see it from the fans’ point of view because normally you don’t have the chance," he tells GOAL. "For someone who lives in the city, it’s easier to understand and to know the culture and the habits of the fans here. But I [still] think it’s very nice to see it from another point of view.”
Asked if this is his first time undercover in Madrid, where he has called home since retiring in 2009, Figo sees the funny side. "No," he laughs, "it’s the first time in these places. For me it is new. To discover these places is sometimes not easy. Of course, [as] it’s crowded these days it is difficult to see [them]. So it was nice.”
ExpediaFigo's guide to visiting the city
Across a glittering career Figo played in some of the finest cities in Europe. Starting in Lisbon with Sporting CP's academy he moved to Barcelona as a 22-year-old. He then made that infamous switch to Madrid five years later before finishing his career in Milan with Inter.
So, then, having had a taste of several European landmarks, why choose to retire in Madrid? For Figo the decision was simple. "I like Madrid a lot," he says. "I’ve lived here for almost 20 years. I decided to come back because I was building my house when I left, it was a family decision. I’m very happy with the way the people receive me, and the city too.”
After a combined 20 years in Spain's capital, Figo is somewhat of an expert on what to do – either as a travelling fan or a curious tourist. "I think Madrid as a capital city is special for all the offerings and environment it has," he tells GOAL. "Of course, sports are one of the biggest event days in the city, but for those who aren’t just focused on football they have a lot of other options. Right now, there is the opening of the ARCO [2024] art fair. You always have a lot of options with restaurants, music, things to see."
However, Madrid is also tailor-made for the football fanatic, as Figo explains: "For football fans, I would recommend the Legends Museum which they opened a few months ago. It’s in the city centre, close to the Plaza del Sol, and is all about the history of football. Madrid is one of the most visited [places] for museums, [whether] you like art, football – it has whatever’s good!”
ExpediaTips for travelling Spain and his dream European destination
You don't rack up almost 800 career appearances, playing across a combined five World Cups and European Championships, without having a feel for travel. And it is clear when talking to GOAL that this aspect is still prominent in Figo's life, even if a lot of it is work-induced. "I travel a lot, almost every ten days. Recently I was in London, Paris, Prague, all these nice cities with a different atmosphere and culture. But if it’s in free time, that’s better than work!” he jokes.
When he does get some time off, though, Figo is knowledgeable on how to escape the hustle and bustle of Madrid, reeling off countless locations a stones throw away from the city. "You have a lot of nice cities around, like Avila, Segovia, Toledo, in the mountains for skiing," he notes. "You have plenty of places you can visit at the weekend when you’re not working, and to get away from the cosmopolitan city. You have the countryside too, not far from here, one hour more or less."
And outside of Spain? Figo eyes a return to Italy – but slightly further south from where he used to call home. "I would like to do a tour in Tuscany," he explains. "I like Italy, I think it’s a nice place to visit, to eat, and [has good] sights.”
Getty ImagesFigo's favourite stadium – and it's not the Bernabeu!
As a player, travelling for Figo was mostly associated with UEFA Champions League nights, jetting out to European cities far and wide to feature in Europe's premier competition. The Portuguese has therefore compiled his fair share of iconic stadiums – none more so than the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Camp Nou or Stadio San Siro he used to call home.
But from the stadiums he's played in, Figo ignores those three and reveals a surprising favourite, taking GOAL back to Barcelona's UEFA Champions League group-stage match away to Arsenal in October 1999. "I had the chance to play in the stadiums of the big teams in Europe, so I’m familiar," he says. "Maybe the old Wembley Stadium [is the most impressive]. I played once in a charity game in the new one, but maybe the old one because of the history of the stadium."
The 'new' Wembley Stadium will host this year's UEFA Champions League final, with usual suspects Real Madrid still in the mix for an incredible 15th European crown. Figo backs his former side to go all the way but admits it's too close to call, especially after drawing Man City in the quarter-finals. "We are heading for a round with all the big ‘sharks’, so I think they will be very nice games to watch," he tells GOAL. "For sure there will be two big clubs in the final that will fight for the cup. It’s difficult to say [who will be in the final] because Real Madrid have a big history, Man City are strong. Surprises can always happen, like Inter being in the final last year. We have to wait a bit, but for sure there are a lot of big games coming.”