Luís Figo, an icon of Portuguese football, made his mark with his refined technique and leadership on the pitch. Born in 1972 in Almada, he shone at Sporting, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2000 and leading Portugal to the semi-finals of the Euros and World Cups. His career, full of impossible dribbles and precise assists, inspired daring bets on unpredictable games.
Platforms such as Lucky Twice Casino captured this essence, allowing fans to relive the thrill of unexpected victories. Here, we explore four of the biggest betting wins linked to his duels, based on historical accounts from punters who saw fortunes change with epic comebacks.
Historic Comeback Against England at Euro 2000
On 12 June 2000, in Eindhoven, Portugal faced England in the group stage of Euro 2000. The English took a 2-0 lead with goals from McManaman in the 3rd minute and Heskey in the 18th, leaving the Portuguese in shock. Bettors who doubted a comeback saw odds above 5.00 for a Portuguese victory, a high figure given the apparent superiority of their rivals. Figo, captain at 27, changed the course of the game in the 22nd minute with a shot from outside the area, a perfect curve that fooled goalkeeper Seaman and set the stadium alight. The masterful dribble in the previous move, leaving Ashley Cole on the ground, was the prelude.
Nuno Gomes equalised in the 33rd minute, and Pedro Mendes turned the game around in the 81st minute, sealing the 3-2 victory. This comeback yielded stratospheric gains: a British bettor, according to BBC reports, multiplied £500 by 12, profiting £6,000 on a single bet on the Portuguese victory. Others in Portugal cashed in on over 2.5 goals markets, with odds of 2.20, turning modest bets into thousands of euros. Figo, with 70% possession in his dribbles, was voted man of the match, proving that his vision of the game could unbalance even world favourites.
The Controversial Return to Camp Nou in 2002
On 23 November 2002, Figo returned to Camp Nou for Real Madrid in a tense El Clásico. His controversial €62 million transfer the previous year was still a hot topic: Catalan fans saw him as a traitor. The odds for a Madrid victory were around 3.50, reflecting Barça’s favouritism at home. The game started chaotically, with Barcelona pressing, but Figo, on the right flank, orchestrated the defence with accurate long passes. In the 19th minute, he crossed low for Iván Helguera to make it 1-0; in the 64th, Ronaldo Fenômeno extended the lead to 2-0. Objects flew from the stands – coins, bottles, even a pig’s head – interrupting the game for 15 minutes.
Figo, ironically, gave a thumbs up as he picked up debris before a corner kick. Bettors who trusted in his resilience profited handsomely: a Portuguese fan in Madrid, according to Marca, bet €1,000 on Real’s victory at 3.50, pocketing €3,500. Asian handicap markets +1 for Madrid, with odds of 1.90, yielded more for those who predicted Figo’s resilience, who completed 85% of passes under pressure. That night, with 95,000 spectators in a rage, consolidated Figo as a brilliant provocateur, multiplying fortunes in courageous bets.
Lone Hat-Trick Against Moldova in 2001
On 15 August 2001, at the Estádio de São Luís in Faro, Portugal hosted Moldova in a preparatory friendly. As distant underdogs, the Moldovans offered odds of 15.00 for any positive result, but no one expected Figo’s show. At 27, at the height of his post-Ballon d’Or career, he scored all the goals in a 3-0 victory. The first came in the 12th minute, a volley after a rebound; the second, in the 36th, in a quick exchange with Rui Costa; the third, in the 72nd, from a penalty kick with class. His 12 successful dribbles and 4 attempted assists dominated the midfield.
Bets on Figo as the game’s top scorer, at odds of 4.50, exploded: a group of friends from Lisbon, according to local newspapers such as Público, split €200 on that option, collectively winning €900. Others cashed in on over 2.5 total goals, at odds of 2.10, predicting the massacre. This unique hat-trick for the national team, in a game with low expectations, turned marginal bets into stories of quick riches, with reported winnings of up to 10 times the amount invested in player markets. Figo, with 32 goals in 127 caps, immortalised himself as an unpredictable maestro.
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