Former Portugal captain and football icon Luis Figo has called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down, delivering one of the strongest public criticisms yet of the world football governing body’s leadership.
Figo, who once backed Infantino’s rise to the FIFA presidency and even contested the organisation’s top job in 2015, believes the time has come for a change at the helm following growing controversy surrounding FIFA’s governance.
The Ballon d’Or winner’s comments come at a time when FIFA is facing mounting scrutiny over its leadership, particularly after the backlash surrounding the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, a commercial initiative that has divided football stakeholders across the world.
In a strongly worded statement, Figo accused Infantino of damaging the credibility of football’s governing body and argued that the organisation needs fresh leadership to restore trust among member associations and the global football community.
The Portuguese legend’s remarks carry significant weight, as one of football’s most respected former players and a previous FIFA presidential candidate, Figo has remained actively involved in discussions surrounding football governance over the past decade. His latest intervention signals growing dissatisfaction among influential voices within the sport.
The controversy surrounding FIFA intensified after criticism of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project, which would have involved outside investment in a commercial entity linked to FIFA competitions. The proposal attracted widespread opposition from several football stakeholders, with senior officials distancing themselves from the initiative and some member associations withdrawing support for Infantino’s leadership.
Figo believes the current situation has undermined confidence in FIFA’s administration and insists that football deserves leadership capable of protecting the game’s integrity above all else.
His criticism represents a dramatic shift from his earlier support for Infantino, back in 2015, Figo publicly endorsed the Swiss-Italian administrator during the FIFA presidential race, believing he could lead meaningful reforms after the organisation emerged from one of the biggest corruption scandals in football history.
More than a decade later, the former Real Madrid and Barcelona star now argues that FIFA requires a different direction.
The growing pressure on Infantino has also been fuelled by reports of internal disagreements within FIFA, including the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and criticism from other top officials over the handling of the commercial proposal.
While FIFA has yet to issue a formal response to Figo’s latest comments, the debate surrounding the organisation’s future leadership is expected to intensify in the coming months.
For football fans around the world, the development is another reminder that challenges off the pitch can have just as much impact as the action on it.
As global football continues to expand commercially, questions around transparency, accountability and governance remain central to the future of the sport.
Luis Figo’s call for Gianni Infantino’s resignation has now added another powerful voice to that conversation, setting the stage for what could become one of the biggest governance debates in modern football.
