Dubai: Portugal’s football legend and Laureus Academy member Luis Figo has picked Brazil as his favourite to win the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.
In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with @LaureusSport, Figo has also given his verdict on the chances of some of the top teams in the competition — Argentina, Germany, Portugal and Spain.
“Well, I always say that my favourites are the teams who have more experience in the World Cup and have more history because that helps in my opinion. So for me, I think Brazil this year is favourite. And there is Spain. I think they are the two teams with more quality,” Figo told LaureusSport in the interview.
“Spain will have one of the best teams, but perhaps they don’t score enough goals. They have good strikers but they miss the opportunity to score, unlike Raul and [Fernando] Torres before. I would like to have a final like that: Brazil versus Spain. Or Portugal versus Spain, or Portugal versus Brazil would be good for me,” he added.
During a 15-year career spanning from 1991 to 2006, Figo has scored 32 goals in his 127 appearances for Portugal. Now 45, Figo had a successful career highlighted by several wins, including the Portuguese Cup, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, one Uefa Champions League title, one Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup, two Uefa Super Cups and one Intercontinental Cup, four Serie A title, one Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups, among others. He represented his country at three European Championships and two World Cups, with his best being a runners-up spot at Euro 2004.
Despite being the defending champions, Figo has cleverly evaded naming Germany on his list of favourites. “Well, I don’t know, Germany’s always favourite, but this year I don’t see it,” he said.
Figo also admitted that he has been a huge fan of former FC Barcelona teammates Neymar Junior and Lionel Messi. “Neymar for me is an amazing football player. I think he’s one of the best. I think in the future he will be the best football player in the world. He’s fast, he’s amazing. He has everything to be the No.1. Brazil is always strong. They have so many millions of persons in the country and so it’s easier to produce footballeres, than say in Portugal. We have just eleven,” the Portuguese playmaker admitted.
“Argentina have the best football player, but they were struggling to qualify. And the friendly game against Spain [which they lost 1-6] was a disaster. It will be a surprise what they can do. I think they have always had good players and they have good players. I don’t know the reason they’re struggling in qualification despite having the best football players. So they can surprise everyone. And Argentina is Argentina. It’s one of the teams who have experienced success, but in the last World Cups they didn’t get the results. But they are always there,” he predicted.
Figo was in full favour of his former teammate Zinedine Zidane’s decision to quit as Real Madrid’s coach despite winning a third straight Uefa Champions League trophy. “It’s a surprise like for everybody, but I think it’s a personal decision. He thought that it was the right decision for him and for the club. And he took it. I don’t know why. I haven’t spoken with him, but I think he was feeling that it was the best decision for the future of the club,” Figo said.
