Why Figo is Portugal's Best Ever Footballer

Is this statement really controversial?
At first glance perhaps so, but if one is so inclined to look deeper and really understand the criteria that I am basing this off and looks at the evidence, then yes, Figo really is the best talent that Portugal has produced.


So of course you must ask yourself what criteria I would use and how I could possibly put Figo ahead of Eusebio and Cristiano?













The thing that I look at first is footballing ability. That is where is starts. You then have to combine that with what they have achieved and so forth, but that is when the argument can get a bit skewed. Because the four horsemen are who they are not only based on footballing ability but because of what they did in big games which lead to their immortal greatness.


With Portuguese players, sadly none of them have done it on the very big stage. Sorry, but the Champions League is not a tournament I rate highly. It is entertaining and fun but it is not the World Cup.


So what we are left with when talking about Portuguese players is ability. On PURE footballing talent, there has never been a Portuguese man on Figo's level. What this dude could do with two feet and his balance and incredible football IQ puts him at the very top.

Now I hear people screaming and wanting my head. All I ask is for video evidence to be used. Because the poise and grace with which Figo caressed the ball is something seen very rarely. If you watch what he did and can't praise him, then it to only leaves me to say that you don't understand the game.


Luis was not perfect and he has to blame himself for not making a big enough impact at the 2002 and 2004 tournaments for Portugal. Especially that final against Greece which they ought to have won is something that will scar him for life. But these things happen and cannot detract from what he already portrayed in the game.







I am a simple man and I appreciate dribbling. In fact, scratch that, I LOVE dribbling. To me, it is what makes football truly special and the difficulty of the skill to pull off is what makes it so amazing once the feat is finally achieved.


Figo was probably one of the best dribblers of the ball the game has seen. Because it is one thing to dribble when relying mainly on one foot, but to execute it with both feet and leave defenders bamboozled is truly an incredible thing.

And this article was spawned as scoured YouTube randomly and came across a Figo video. It was watching it that actually made me forget just how amazing this guy was. It is just a shame that he lacked the mental strength that Ronaldo, Zidane and Pele and Maradona had to do it on the biggest stage when the pressure was on. Because if he did, we would be talking about one of the very greats in football.


There you have it, feel free to disagree or throw pie on my face. But for lovers of football, who play football for fun and love the very essence of the great sport must champion those like Bergkamp, Okocha, Robben, Rui Costa; who may not have a world cup medal to their name but have left a footballing imprint on the sport and must not be forgotten.


HH

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