Luis Figo, the right-flank artist whose 2000 Barça to Real switch shook football | OneFootball

Crowned Ballon d'Or in 2000, Luis Figo shocked football by swapping Barcelona for Real Madrid that summer. He also defined his era with ruthless right-flank dribbling.

Contrary to a prickly image, he was warm and open in Paris before last September's Ballon d'Or ceremony. According to L'Équipe, he spoke freely about the move.

Barcelona's right-side star, his release clause was 10 billion pesetas, just over €60m, a record then. Real presidential candidate Florentino Pérez vowed to sign him if elected, setting events in motion.

Agent Paulo Futre sought a pay rise at Barcelona, but president Josep Lluis Nuñez and Joan Gaspart stood firm. Figo signed a pre-contract with Real, triggered when Pérez won.

Media and Barcelona fans called it treachery. Back at Camp Nou on 21 October 2000, a 2-0 home win, nearly 100,000 jeered from the warm-up. Banners labelled him a mercenary and traitor as objects flew.

He covered his ears as the noise hit 112 decibels, akin to a plane taking off. Two years later, in a 0-0 on 23 November 2002, a pig's head landed near him before a corner.

Figo said those episodes hurt. He recalled hostile coverage before the 2000 match, including attacks on his family, and that he tried to focus on football while fearing for them, an ordeal he believes made him mature.

On 19 December 2000 he won the Ballon d'Or, 18 points clear of Zinédine Zidane. Zidane had won Euro 2000 after France eliminated Portugal 2-1 after extra time in the semi-finals.

Source: L'Équipe