Portuguese football legend and former FIFA World Player of the Year, Luís Figo, has called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down, accusing him of misleading the football community, abusing the powers of his office and placing personal interests ahead of the sport.

In a post shared on X on Wednesday, August 5, the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan star threw his weight behind growing calls for Infantino’s resignation following the collapse of a controversial proposal to commercialise FIFA’s flagship tournaments through a private investment structure reportedly valued at $20 billion.

The football great said Infantino had failed to uphold the standards expected of the FIFA presidency and warned that his continued leadership was damaging the credibility of world football.

“Today I join others from across our game and call for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA President,” Figo said.

“Infantino has debased the office that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.

“He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the FIFA Peace Prize winner.

“It is too late to save his dignity, but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”

The former Portugal international also condemned what he described as recent revelations surrounding FIFA’s leadership, saying they reflected the worst conduct he had witnessed in the sport.

“What I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed,” he said.

“The man who would try to force through such major changes just to enrich himself and his friends - is a relic of the game’s past and should have no part in its future.”

He further argued that the latest controversy was only one of several issues that had damaged FIFA’s reputation under Infantino’s leadership.

“None of this comes as a surprise when you consider the litany of abuses he has inflicted on football’s reputation.

“I could write 10,000 words on the problems at FIFA. But the solution needs only three: Infantino must go.

“I have loved football all my life. I was a professional player for 20 years. And believe me, I have met some rogues in my time in the game.

“But what I have seen exposed in the last 10 days is the lowest, most deceitful and cravenly self-interested behaviour I have ever witnessed.”

He added:

“The man who would do that - the man who would try to force through such major changes just to enrich himself and his friends -is a relic of the game’s past and should have no part in its future.”

The criticism comes as Infantino faces mounting pressure over a now-withdrawn proposal to transfer FIFA’s media and commercial rights into a private investment structure worth about $20 billion.

The proposal triggered widespread opposition from football governing bodies, including UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, forcing FIFA to abandon the plan amid growing backlash.

Several football administrators, former players and governance experts also opposed the proposal, arguing that competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and other major tournaments are global football assets that should remain under the control of the football community rather than private investors.

Critics warned that the arrangement could significantly alter FIFA’s governance structure by giving outside financial interests greater influence over competitions that generate billions of dollars and represent the organisation’s most valuable assets.

The controversy deepened after reports emerged that some of FIFA’s senior officials had privately and publicly distanced themselves from the proposal.

Among those mentioned were FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, and Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, who reportedly indicated that the proposal originated directly from Infantino and was not the outcome of a collective decision by FIFA’s leadership.

The reported divisions within FIFA have intensified concerns over transparency and governance, with critics claiming that key stakeholders were not properly consulted before discussions on the proposed commercial restructuring began.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has also criticised the direction of the organisation under Infantino, while governance experts have questioned whether such a far-reaching commercial arrangement could weaken FIFA’s independence and accountability.

Although Infantino has defended the search for new commercial opportunities as part of FIFA’s long-term financial strategy, critics insist that any proposal involving the governing body’s most valuable assets should only proceed after extensive consultation with member associations, clubs, players and other football stakeholders.

The latest intervention by Figo adds to growing pressure on the FIFA president as scrutiny of his leadership continues to intensify across the global football community.