Fifa boss Infantino pips PSG chief Al-Khelaifi in Morning Wire Football Power List
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has topped the inaugural Morning Wire Football Power List, a week before the biggest ever men’s World Cup is due to kick off.
The ranking, compiled with a 16-strong panel of expert judges drawn from across the sports industry, is designed to be a snapshot of who controls the most popular sport on the planet.
Infantino has enacted drastic changes in his decade-long reign at the governing body, including boosting revenues by expanding the World Cup and Club World Cup.
But his leadership has also generated controversy, from butting heads with domestic leagues, clubs and players over the calendar to cosying up to President Trump and Saudi Arabia.
He took top spot ahead of Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari minister who is best known as president of back-to-back Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Al-Khelaifi’s influence extends much further than the French capital, however, with high-ranking roles at European governing body Uefa, European Football Clubs and broadcaster BeIn.
That reach saw him pip Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, with Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour and Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman rounding off the top five.
Real Madrid and Barcelona’s presidents, Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta, make the top 10, with Cristiano Ronaldo, his agent Jorge Mendes and Premier League CEO Richard Masters.
Kang, Beckham and Adidas CEO in Football Power List
Billionaire Michele Kang is the highest-placed of four women in the top 25, thanks to her multi-club network which includes London City Lionesses and OL Lyonnes.
David Beckham, now co-owner of Inter Miami, joins Masters and Women’s Super League chair Dawn Airey among England’s three representatives in the Football Power List.
Trump appears at No13 in recognition of the impact of his policies on this summer’s World Cup, which is being majority hosted by the United States.
Sky CEO Dana Strong, whose organisation is the biggest single financial contributor to the Premier League’s world-leading media rights revenue, was also voted in the top 15.
Similarly, the impact of major sponsors is acknowledged by the inclusion of Bjorn Gulden, CEO of Adidas, whose marketing spend is among the most significant in the game.
PFA CEO Maheta Molango is included for his player advocacy at a global level, while lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont made the list for the enduring impact of key decisions he helped to attain at the European courts, including the Bosman and Diarra rulings.
Read the full Morning Wire Football Power List here