Ranking the five best Real Madrid RWs of all-time
By Rohan Sharma
2: Luis Figo (2000-2005)
When Florentino Perez first became the club’s president back in 2000, he promised the team’s fanbase that he would bring the club back to prominence after some years of mediocrity by recruiting the very best talent in world football at the time, ushering in the period known by many as the “Galacticos era.”
Soon after, players of the ilk of Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham and 1998 World Cup winner, Zinedine Zidane, were brought into the fold.
However, one of his most notable and controversial acquisitions was of the newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner, Luis Figo, who at the time was an integral member of the club’s nemesis, FC Barcelona.
Perez was able to tactfully orchestrate the transfer, which made the winger the most expensive player at the time.
Figo would subsequently hit the ground running, and in his five-year run with the club, the Portuguese international would score 45 goals and provide 58 assists.
The Portuguese international’s game revolved around his quickness, skill, and dribbling mastery which was ably supported by an array of deft feints and step-overs.
He was also blessed with a superb right foot as he was able to deliver pinpoint crosses into the goal for the likes of Ronaldo, Raul, and Fernando Morientes to latch on to.
During his tenure, he helped the club win two La Liga titles, two Supercopa de Espana titles, an Intercontinental title, a UEFA Super Cup, and a UEFA Champions League title in 2002.