FIFA legends turn on Gianni Infantino: Football greats tell president 'enough is enough' in bombshell joint-statement - hours after Cristiano Ronaldo's awkward encounter with under-fire boss

Pressure is continuing to mount on under-fire FIFA president with high-profile current and former footballers now making formal statements for him to stand down.

Ex-Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre, who is part of FIFA's Players' Voice Panel, took to X on Monday to demand change, writing: 'Enough is enough!'

That statement was also shared by France 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit as well as Lionesses star Lucy Bronze.

Infantino is facing calls to quit from his UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin in the wake of a hugely controversial plan to sell stakes in a company to run the World Cup to private investors.

And players have now begun to speak out against the 56-year-old, with Monday's widely-shared statement evident of that who 'share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world'.

It added: 'Like them, we have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under FIFA's current leadership.

Mikael Silvestre (left) is leading calls for Gianni Infantino to step down as FIFA president

Silvestre's statement, which was shared by several others, demanded that 'enough is enough'

'For too long we've seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.

'Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership's ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football.'

Silvestre's interjection is significant given it effectively comes from within the FIFA fold, with the Players' Voice Panel a 16-strong group formed by the global governing body to monitor and advise on initiatives to tackle racism.

The statement continued: 'Recent events have made silence impossible. Enough is enough.

'We call on all stakeholders to step forward and help reshape the future of our sport.'

One of Silvestre's former Manchester United team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo crossed paths with Infantino recently - with many on social media stating it was an encounter that the Portuguese didn't enjoy.

Ronaldo was spotted at the Esports World Cup in Paris and was filmed greeting the Swiss chief.

However, after the pleasantries, the Al-Nassr star seemed to grimace as he walked away.

After asking how is he, Infantino referenced the fact he is close to reaching the 1,000-career goals mark, saying: 'Twenty-three [goals] more, right? Good luck. Come on, come on.'

Cristiano Ronaldo crossed paths with Infantino tat the Esports World Cup in Paris

The Portuguese star appeared to grimace as he left Infantino's company after their exchange

Whether or not Infantino will be in position to see if Ronaldo reaches that landmark remains unclear.

Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running against Infantino but said in an interview with The Rest Is Politics podcast that his adversary has two options.

'One option is that he realises that he doesn't have the support, and that's not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches,' the Slovenian said.

'And the second option that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don't know yet who.'

The current president of CONCACAF, Victor Montagliani, has been mentioned by some observers as a potential rival candidate. CONCACAF is the continental confederation representing countries from North and Central America plus the Caribbean. Montagliani is also a FIFA vice-president.

CONCACAF joined UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in rejecting Infantino's private investor plan, with its presidents describing it as a 'deception' in an open letter published earlier this month.

Infantino was in the Caribbean at the weekend, attending a youth football tournament in the Dominican Republic.