Speaking to CNN on Wednes-day afternoon, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid star said he wanted to rid FIFA of its dodgy reputation.
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.”
The former Balon d’Or winner continued: “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.
“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.”
About the task he faces in beating the incumbent, he reasoned: “I think no one is untouchable in this life. If you think like that you are wrong.”
Figo is the sixth candidate to express an interest in standing for the post.
The others are Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter, Michel van Praag, current president of the Netherlands federation, David Ginola, a former France international, Jerome Champagne, an independent candidate from France, and Ali bin Al Hussein, FIFA’s current vice-president.
Lusa News Agency meanwhile revealed that following a meeting on Tuesday at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, the European football federation, UEFA, said it would not support Figo and welcomed the fact that there is more than one candidate.
Last year, Sepp Blatter caused upset among Portuguese football supporters when he seemingly mocked the national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo at a seminar at Oxford University when asked his views on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by praising the first and mocking the latter.
Writing on his Facebook page, Ronaldo said: “This video shows clearly the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, for my club and my country. Much is explained now. I wish Mr Blatter health and a long life, with the certainty that he will continue to witness, as he deserves, the successes of his favourite teams and players.”