Figo Declares for Fifa Top Job, Says ‘Football Deserves Better’

Former Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan winger Luis Figo has emerged latest candidate for the Fifa presidency.

The Portuguese great, 42, joins a growing list, which already includes fellow surprise candidate and ex-France international David Ginola, Fifa Vice-President Prince Ali, Dutchman Michael van Praag and Jerome Champagne, all vying to replace incumbent Sepp Blatter.

Swiss football administrator Blatter has been at the helm of affairs at world football’s governing level since 1998 and is running for a fifth tenure.

Figo won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2002 and was capped 127 times at international level.

Figo Pays Pictured with the Legendary Eusebio.
Figo Pays Pictured with the Legendary Eusebio.

He also won the Ballon d’Or (then a French Magazine award) in 2000 and the Fifa World Player of the Year in 2001.

“Football has given me so much during my life and I want to give something back to the game,” Figo said.

“I look at the reputation of Fifa right now and I don’t like it. Football deserves better.

“In recent weeks, months, and even years, I have seen the image of Fifa deteriorate.

“As I speak to many people in football- to players, managers and association presidents- so many of those people have told me that something has to be done.”

All would-be candidates have to register their interest in contesting before Thursday’s deadline. They must also pass an anti-corruption test.

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