Ballon d´Or, 2000 (http://www.lequipe.fr/FF/ballon_or/bo_2000.html), FIFA World Player, 2001 (http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/awards/gala/news/newsid=80399.html) and Portugal National Team (http://www.fpf.pt/portal/page/portal/PORTAL_FUTEBOL/SELECCOES/CLUBE_PORTUGAL/FACTOS_FIGURAS/FIGO)
Tribute to Luis Figo (May 31th, 2009)
«Dear Friends of Inter,
Tomorrow, 31 May 2009, will be my last Sunday as a footballer. Together with the friends of Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team, I want to thank all of you Nerazzurri fans, who have shown me affection since my first day in Milan.
I am very pleased that my last Sunday as a player is, for me and for all of us at Inter, a Sunday of celebration for the success of the fourth consecutive Scudetto. Winning has always been the only true objective of my career. Winning everything I could win, from practice matches in training sessions to championships, from cups to personal trophies. And to get to win, I have known only one road, that of sacrifice and work. They taught me this when I was a boy at Sporting and everything I have obtained has never come by coincidence, but after many sacrifices.
For this reason, I today want to say sorry if in a few matches or during a few periods I haven't succeeded in giving my best, either through injury or for other reasons. The first person to be sorry is me, because I hadn't succeeded in giving all of you what I had worked towards.
When I arrived in Milan, Inter was a team that was learning to win. We have come a long way together and for this I want to thank president Moratti, the coaches, all my colleagues, all the people at the club who I met and worked with. If I have been happy in Milan, the merit is theirs.
Football has given me a lot, but most of all it has given me the possibility to meet marvellous people and friends who will remain forever, and president Moratti and those who I have come to know here in the Inter environment will have a special place in this group. Just like you, dear fans.
The nicest trophy of my career is never having had a problem with a single team-mate.
To all Interisti, a sincere embrace and the conviction that Inter will continue to work to win more and more.
With affection,
Luis Figo»
