Figo retires from international football
Portugal's star midfielder and captain Luis Figo announced his retirement from the national team after an illustrious career spanning 15 years, but he refused to shut the door completely on a possible return at a later date.
Portugal's star midfielder and captain Luis Figo announced his retirement from the national team after an illustrious career spanning 15 years, but he refused to shut the door completely on a possible return at a later date.
"I think the time has come to take a break. I don't know if it will be forever, because I will never refuse to serve my country and because no one can predict the future, but at this moment I feel the need to stop," he said in a statement.
"There are moments in life when we are forced to make choices. Some are easier than others. This one, for obvious reasons, is particularly difficult for me."
Figo, 31, has for years been Portugal's standout player having won 110 caps and scored 31 goals.
His departure comes just as Portugal are set to begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with a match against Latvia on September 4.
The player, whose contract with Real Madrid will not be renewed when it expires in December, said in an interview with sports daily Record in February he would like his future appearances for Portugal to be limited to the final stages of championships.
He made his senior debut for Portugal in October 1991 against Luxembourg and scored his first goal for the national team in November 1992 in a 2-1 victory over Bulgaria.
Figo, along with AC Milan's Rui Costa and Lazio's Fernando Couto, is part of Portugal's so-called "golden generation" who won the FIFA World Under-19 title in 1991.
But while he earned the FIFA World Player of the year award in 2001, Figo has never won any tournament at senior international level.
At the 2002 World Cup finals Portugal tumbled out in the first round after failing to win a single game and losing to the United States.
Figo also played in Euro 1996 where Portugal were beaten 1-0 in the quarter-finals by the Czech Republic.
Glory at future European tournaments also proved elusive for Figo.
Portugal did not go beyond the semi-finals of Euro 2000 and reached the final of Euro 2004, its best ever performance in an international tournament, losing 1-0 to Greece.
Figo appeared unhappy when Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari substituted him with younger players during several matches of the Euro 2004 finals.
He walked straight to the dressing room after being taken off in the quarter-final match against England as Portugal were trailing 1-0 rather than watch the rest of the game from the bench as is the norm.
His replacement Helder Postiga, 22, scored the leveller and Portugal went on to win 6-5 on penalties after the game ended 2-2 after extra-time.
Figo said in his statement he believed a new generation of players had emerged during Euro 2004 which would "ensure the high level of Portuguese football reached over the past decade would continue."
"In 15 years serving the different national teams I have had great experiences which have helped me grow and develop as a footballer and as a person," he added.
Scolari said in a statement he understood Figo's position and said he felt certain Figo would stand by his teammates until such time as he decided to make a return.
Figo became the second member of the "golden generation" to retire from international football since Euro 2004 after teammate Rui Costa last month announced he would no longer be part of the national team.
Meanwhile Portugal's 35-year-old former captain Fernando Couto has not said whether he intends to continue or retire but the defender, the only other player to earn more than 100 caps other than Figo, was a peripheral figure at the Euro tournament after being dropped following the opening 2-1 defeat by Greece.