Gianni Infantino appears to be under mounting pressure, with Luis Figo launching a fierce attack.

Portuguese legend Luis Figo has criticised Gianni Infantino’s leadership of FIFA in a strongly worded statement aimed at football’s governing body.

Figo is no stranger to speaking openly about FIFA. In 2015, he formally launched a campaign for the FIFA presidency on a platform that called for greater transparency.

He eventually pulled out shortly before the vote, citing frustration over what he described as an undemocratic electoral process — and he has now spoken out again about Infantino.

As an Inter Milan supporter, Infantino would once have been a major admirer of Figo — but after the 53-year-old’s latest remarks, that admiration may well have disappeared.

“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. #Infantinout”

Figo has not said whether he is still considering another attempt to become FIFA president, having previously put himself forward 11 years ago.

Supporters around the world — Barcelona fans aside, perhaps — would likely welcome the former winger taking charge of the organisation. Figo has long been an outspoken critic of how the game has been run under figures such as Sepp Blatter and Gianni Infantino, and with widespread calls for reform at the governing body, a former professional player could be an attractive option.

Even so, there is no certainty that Figo would prove popular with the wider public. Arsene Wenger has spent most of his life playing and managing at the highest level, yet his proposals for ‘daylight’ offside and holding a World Cup every two years have been almost universally criticised.

On top of that, Figo has limited administrative experience, which may not help him with voters. Before becoming FIFA president, Infantino served as UEFA Secretary General for seven years and oversaw the expansion of the European Championship to 24 teams — an approach he later mirrored at the World Cup with considerable success.

There may also be a view among confederations outside UEFA that the role should now go to a non-European. Joao Havelange was the federation’s last president from outside Europe. The Brazilian stepped down in 1998 and remains the only person from the rest of the world to have held the office.

Former Real Madrid star Figo has previously worked as a FIFA ambassador, and he would need the support of five member associations.

No, a professional player has never been FIFA president — although, interestingly, a former Olympic swimmer has.

Names such as Jules Rimet, Stanley Rous, Blatter and Infantino all came into sport from legal or administrative backgrounds, though Joao Havelange did compete as a swimmer for Brazil.

Figo was not the only high-profile name to show interest in the FIFA presidency in 2015. Brazilian legend Zico announced his intention to run after Blatter’s resignation, but failed to secure the required written backing of five national football associations, while David Ginola also spoke about a possible bid.