The Argentine great has been outspoken in his criticism of outgoing chief Sepp Blatter, and apparently wants the top job for himself.
Uruguayan author and journalist Victor Hugo Morales, who co-hosted a TV programme in Venezuela with Maradona during last year's World Cup, has taken to Twitter to claim that Maradona has told him he is interested in taking over the presidency.
Blatter resigned just days after being re-elected for a fifth term in office, amid the corruption crisis currently engulfing football's governing body.
"He told me he was going to run for president of FIFA and authorised me to inform," tweeted Morales, who co-hosted a television programme with Maradona during last year's World Cup finals.
"'I am a candidate' were the words Diego Maradona used to answer me when I consulted him about the nomination for the presidency of FIFA."
As with Brazilian legend Zico, Maradona may struggle to enlist the support of five federations around the world, a requirement to stand for presidency.
Maradona last month labelled Blatter a 'dictator' prior to the presidential election, and said he had made FIFA 'a playground for the corrupt'.
He said in May: "Under Sepp Blatter, FIFA has become a disgrace and a painful embarrassment to those of us who care about football deeply.
"We have a dictator for life. I call Blatter 'the man of ice' because he lacks the inspiration and passion that are at the very heart of football. If this is the face of international football, we are in a very bad place."
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