Argentine and Paraguayan Football Legends Back FIFA President Infantino

A group of renowned former football players from Argentina and Paraguay have declared their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, praising his leadership and governance of the sport.

Nery Pumpido, a World Cup-winning goalkeeper for Argentina in 1986 and now a CONMEBOL official, led the endorsement. He described Infantino's tenure, which began in February 2016, as "very meritorious" in terms of "good and efficient governance in football."

Pumpido's statement was joined by fellow 1986 World Cup champions Oscar Ruggeri, Jorge Burruchaga, and Sergio Batista. Paraguayan football icons Nelson Haedo Valdez and Roque Santa Cruz also aligned themselves with the declaration of support.

This collective backing stands in contrast to recent criticisms from other prominent former World Cup winners, including France's Emmanuel Petit, Bixente Lizarazu, and Robert Pires, along with Ivorian legend Didier Drogba, who have called for "necessary change" at the helm of world football. Infantino's leadership has faced scrutiny following a controversial proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's new commercial arm, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to private investors. Although the plan was ultimately canceled after widespread backlash, it had created significant divisions, particularly within UEFA.

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We support good and efficient governance in football and recognize that President Infantino's management over the last 10 years has been very meritorious in this regard.