Luís Figo

In August 2026, Figo called on Gianni Infantino to resign immediately amid a crisis over a proposed sale of a stake in the World Cup's commercial activities. He accused the FIFA president of disloyal, self-interested conduct unworthy of his office.

State of the evidence

Figo's statements documented

Legal status — source text

no personal judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for the allegations made; acts attributed to Infantino not transferred to Figo

In Lisbon, FC Barcelona supporters confronted and insulted Figo over his 2000 transfer. The former player turned around, exchanged words with them and made a gesture towards his groin, provoking another controversy.

State of the evidence

videos and sports coverage documented

Legal status — source text

no judicial proceedings identified

Attribution

personal responsibility for his reaction; provocation by supporters documented

Figo's name was mentioned by actress and adult content creator Cláudia Bavel in an interview, prompting speculation. Figo said he had had no contact with her beyond a meeting at an event, demanded a retraction and threatened legal action.

State of the evidence

interview, denial and retraction documented

Legal status — source text

no final judicial proceedings; a public retraction/apology was published

Attribution

Figo was the target of the insinuation and author of the denial, not the perpetrator of any established act

A Sporting tribute to Figo revived criticism from certain supporters concerning his departure from the club and career choices. Figo responded directly to several online users with sarcasm and insults.

State of the evidence

Sporting's post and Figo's responses documented

Legal status — source text

no judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for his aggressive responses

When the closed Super League was announced, Figo denounced what he considered a greedy project, destructive to domestic competitions and against supporters' interests, stating that there was 'nothing super' about it.

State of the evidence

public statement documented

Legal status — source text

no judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for his position; no wrongful act attributed to Figo

Figo became heavily involved in Spanish political debate, attacking the PSOE-Podemos government and interacting favourably with right-wing figures. An acrimonious exchange with Gabriel Rufián, who reminded him of his tax case, illustrated this polarisation.

State of the evidence

posts and public exchanges documented

Legal status — source text

no personal judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for his positions and responses

Figo withdrew from the FIFA presidential race a few days before the vote, considering it not a genuine election but a mechanism designed to keep Sepp Blatter in power.

State of the evidence

withdrawal and public statements documented

Legal status — source text

no personal judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for his candidacy and accusations concerning the process

Spain's Tribunal Supremo dismissed Figo's appeal against tax assessments relating to income from his image rights at FC Barcelona and upheld approximately 2.4 million euros payable.

State of the evidence

Spanish Tribunal Supremo judgment documented

Legal status — source text

appeal dismissed; approximately €2.4 million in personal income tax (IRPF) confirmed for 1997–1999; no criminal conviction described

Attribution

personal tax liability confirmed in administrative litigation

The Ministério Público investigated an image rights contract between Taguspark and Figo, suspected of potentially being consideration for public support for José Sócrates during the 2009 campaign.

State of the evidence

Public Prosecutor's Office investigation, Figo's interview and charges against three Taguspark executives documented

Legal status — source text

Ministério Público did not charge Figo; three Taguspark officials were prosecuted

Attribution

Figo was the beneficiary of a contract and had expressed political support; personal corruption not established

As Barça's captain and idol, Figo negotiated through his agent a pre-contract with Florentino Pérez providing for his transfer to Real Madrid if Pérez won the election, with a substantial penalty clause. The record transfer triggered extraordinary hostility: the label 'traitor', insults and objects thrown onto the pitch during a return to Camp Nou.

State of the evidence

pre-contract, transfer and enduring hostility from supporters documented

Legal status — source text

transfer legally completed; no criminal proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for negotiations and statements; supporters' reactions combined within the same event

While playing for Sporting, Figo became involved in a dispute following contractual commitments with Parma and Juventus. The scandal led to a two-season ban from playing in Italy and ultimately facilitated his move to Barcelona.

State of the evidence

dual contractual commitment and sporting sanction documented

Legal status — source text

agreement between clubs and sporting authorities preventing him from playing in Italy for two seasons; no criminal conviction

Attribution

personal/agent responsibility for signing documents; Figo disputes the validity of the Juventus agreement