Luis Figo to run for FIFA presidency: 'Football deserves much better than this'

Luis Figo has had enough.

Enough of the scandal, enough of the corruption. And he wants to do something about it.

The Portuguese icon announced Wednesday in an interview with CNN that he will run in the upcoming FIFA presidential election, joining four others who have already vowed to challenge incumbent Sepp Blatter in the May election.

Figo, who starred at Barcelona and Real Madrid while also earning 127 caps for Portugal during his illustrious career, told CNN that he wants to change the crumbling image of football's governing body.

"I care about football, so what I'm seeing regarding the image of FIFA - not only now but in the past years - I don't like it," he said.

"If you search FIFA on the internet you see the first word that comes out: scandal - not positive words. It's that we have to change first and try to improve the image of FIFA. Football deserves much better than this.

"I've been talking with so many important people in football - players, managers, president of federations - and they all think that something has to be done."

The 42-year-old continued:

"Last year was the World Cup, I was in Brazil and I saw the reaction of all the fans regarding the image of FIFA and I think something has to be changed.

"Change in leadership, governance, transparency and solidarity, so I think it's the moment for that."

Crucially, the two-time world player of the year says he has already claimed the necessary backing of five national associations for his bid.

Figo joins FIFA vice president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, former FIFA official Jerome Champagne, David Ginola and Dutch FA president Michael van Praag, all of whom have already declared their intention to oppose Blatter, who will be seeking his fifth term in the May 29 election.