Football is big business — a global sport with multiple leagues and teams and international competitions all vying for your attention (and money). But who wields the most influence in the game, those men and women who has some combination of money, authority and power to shape the sport?
As we did in 2015 with our inaugural list, ESPN FC has ranked the top 50 movers and shakers in the game, from FIFA president Gianni Infantino to Cristiano Ronaldo to the mystery person (or people) behind Football Leaks.
We’ve also expanded our approach this time around by ranking the Top 10 influencers in the key regions of planet football (Europe, South America, North America, Africa and Asia) with the help of our experts in each region.
What do you think of this year’s countdown? Who is too high? Who is too low? Did we miss anyone? And who shouldn’t be on the list at all? Comment below or contact us on Twitter @ESPNFC.