Figo Announced Retirement From Football

Sunday, May 17, 2009 -- Portuguese legend Luis Figo has announced his retirement from football at the age of 36.

Figo has been playing for the newly crowned Italian champions Inter Milan since 2005. He had earlier played for Spanish gaints Real Madrid and FC Barcelona and is regarded by many as the second best Portuguese football ever, after having won the Spanish league, the UEFA Champions League and the Italian Serie A in his illustrious career.

Inter Milan became the champions of Italy for the fourth year in a row on Saturday when their closest rivals AC Milan lost 2-1 away to Udinese. Shortly after this triumph, the Portuguese ace and former World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or winner told A BOLA:

"This is the first time I am champion without playing," he told A BOLA. "This is the best way to end. In Italy, winning a title is always very hard, but with everyone in the fight [Juventus, AC Milan and Roma], unlike what happened with the other titles we claimed, you can say that this one was a little bit different, a little bit harder. I will not play again at the highest level. And I will most likely not accept any offer. Only if something special emerges and it is from outside of Europe. But it is not likely."