Michel Platini has told L'Equipe he will support Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein over Sepp Blatter in this week's FIFA presidential election.
The 209 presidents of FIFA's member federations will vote on Friday for the man to lead world football's governing body.
Two candidates, Luis Figo and Michael van Praag, withdrew last week to leave Prince Ali -- FIFA's vice-president for Asia -- and the incumbent Blatter to vie for the position.
Once a confidante and protege of Blatter, UEFA president and FIFA Executive Committee member Platini has often stated his desire to see a change at the top of world football and believes Prince Ali is the right man for the job.
"I don't have the right to vote in this election but I support him personally, and I have no problem saying that, on the contrary in fact," Platini said. "I am firmly convinced Ali, whom I have known for years, could be a great FIFA president. He has all the necessary qualities.
"He says what he thinks and he is not afraid to go against the established system, while always being very positive and fighting for his ideas. That's what I like about him. He has his beliefs, and he sticks to them."
There had been speculation Platini himself would stand against Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term in charge of FIFA despite stating upon re-election in 2011 that he would step down after a fourth term.
"I don't have anything against Sepp. He's a man I like as a person and I respect," said Platini, who brought sceptical European federations behind Blatter in 2011 upon the promise he would not stand again. "I have supported him in the past, because I helped him a lot in 1998 for his first election, and then for the three elections that have followed."
Platini, however, believes Blatter cannot now let go of the powerful position he has held for 17 years.
"We all know he's not staying because he hasn't finished his mission or because he still has great plans for FIFA," he said. "No, he's simply afraid of tomorrow, because he has given his life to FIFA to such an extent that he now identifies himself with it.
"I understand the fear of emptiness that he must be feeling, it's only human. But if he really loves FIFA, he should first think about it before himself. And as long as he stays in place, whether he likes it or not, whether it's fair or not, FIFA will have a deficit of credibility, of image, and therefore authority."