“To me, he embodies the spirit of the outdoors, the adventure, and everything that is great about the game of polo,” said Ralph Lauren of Nacho Figueras, considered to be the most famous polo player in the world. He is a 6-handicap player, placing him in the top 5 percent of players worldwide.
Born on a farm in Argentina in 1977, the athletic Figueras began playing polo at the age of 9. “Some [polo players] are better than others with the ball, some have a better eye, some hit the ball harder…” he has said, “but everybody is an amazing rider. You have to be a great rider.” Figueras left home in 1994 to pursue adventures playing polo professionally in Paris when he was 17. However, he did not come from a wealthy family and has said “I would take care of the horses and then go play in the matches.” After playing in Europe for a few years, Figueras played at the Bridgehampton Polo Club in the Hamptons in 1999, and that’s when he stepped into the spotlight.
According to Mabumbe, “A significant turning point in his career occurred in 2000 when he met photographer Bruce Weber at a dinner party in the Hamptons. This encounter led to modeling opportunities with Ralph Lauren… This partnership not only elevated his personal brand but also brought increased visibility to the sport of polo.” Figueras started modeling for Ralph Lauren in 2000, eventually becoming the face of Ralph Lauren Black Label in 2005. In 2009, he began representing the World of Polo fragrances. In June 2009, he was voted the second most handsome man in the world by the readers of Vanity Fair magazine, between Robert Pattinson and Brad Pitt.
At Ralph Lauren, Figueras became synonymous with the polo aesthetic, representing a lifestyle of adventure, elegance, and sophistication that many aspire to. Despite his successes in modeling, however, polo continues to be his passion. Figueras currently co-owns and plays for Black Watch Polo Team. And his home is a ranch near Buenos Aires, where his horse breeding business with 500 horses is located. He has said that his mission is to elevate the profile of polo from a rich person’s game to one that is more inclusive, and to help others appreciate the beauty of horses. “I want to share the passion I have for polo and make a difference in the world.”
