Left: Action Images / John Sibley Right: Action Images / Paul Harding
When Gianni Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter in 2016, it marked a fresh start for FIFA.
The reputation of world football’s governing body was left severely damaged in 2015 following a corruption scandal that eventually led to Blatter resigning following 17 years as FIFA president.
Infantino has spent 10 years in the role but is now in danger of also leaving with his tail between his legs following his scuppered plan to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors.
While FIFA and Infantino insist “nobody is selling football”, adding “this is not something FIFA could ever entertain”, the proposal has been lambasted by many groups and individuals involved in the game.
UEFA’s 55 member nations say they will boycott any FIFA tournament - including future World Cups - unless the plans are scrapped.
Gary Lineker’s 2016 tweet about Infantino recently resurfaced. The England legend tweeted at the time: "Have this weird feeling that Gianni Infantino will pull off his mask to reveal Sepp Blatter."
Action Images / Carl Recine
Three years earlier, in 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in a bizarre Twitter exchange with Blatter.
While speaking at the Oxford Union, Blatter revealed that he “preferred Messi” over Ronaldo, who he compared to a “commander on the field of play” before walking across the stage in comedic fashion.
"They are both exceptional players but they are totally different and football is about the difference of styles, because Lionel Messi is a good boy who every mother and father would like to have at home,” Blatter told the audience.
"He's a good man, he's very fast, he's not exuberant, he's playing well, he's dancing, he's a kind man, he's a good boy.
"And that's what makes him so popular and naturally he will always get a lot of goals because he is this nice man, and he plays well and scores goals."
Blatter added that Ronaldo had “more expenses for the hairdresser” than Messi. Watch the clip below:
Ronaldo saw this unflattering clip and tweeted: “This video shows the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, my club and my country. Much is explained now.”
In a separate tweet, the Portuguese forward added: “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."
Blatter responded on Twitter: "Dear Cristiano. I apologise if you were upset by my lighthearted answer at private event on Friday. I never meant to offend you."
He also wrote to Real Madrid in an attempt to diffuse the situation, but it’s clear that Blatter’s comments left a lasting impression on Ronaldo.
At the recent World Cup in North America, Ronaldo caused a stir when his official Instagram account was caught ‘liking’ a post of a journalist accusing FIFA of showing favouritism towards Argentina and Messi.
Argentina reached the World Cup final but suffered a 1-0 defeat after being outclassed by Luis de la Fuente’s Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium.