Only FIFA Can Crown World’s Best Player — Infantino

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has declared that it is only the world football governing body that has the capacity to name the world’s best player.

Infantino’s comments came during the glitzy 2024 FIFA Best Awards held in Doha, Qatar, and seemed to take a subtle jab at the revered Ballon d’Or, traditionally seen as the pinnacle of individual achievement in football.

He stressed that FIFA’s unique voting protocol positions it as the rightful authority to decide who reigns supreme in football, citing the inclusive nature of their balloting system.

“If you want to know the best in the world, it should be by FIFA. Because everyone votes, it’s transparent, it’s objective, it’s all-inclusive,” he stated emphatically.

Both the FIFA Best and the Ballon d’Or are among the most prestigious individual awards in the sport, but they operate under different formats.

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The Ballon d’Or is orchestrated by France Football and relies solely on the votes of elite journalists worldwide.

Conversely, the FIFA Best award allows votes from fans, the current captains and coaches of both women’s and men’s national teams, as well as media representatives.

Vinicius Junior was crowned the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2024 despite narrowly missing out on the Ballon d’Or, which was awarded to Rodri.

This year’s Ballon d’Or gala was marked by controversy as Rodri edged out Vinicius Jr., igniting debates among fans and pundits alike.

Infantino’s remarks undoubtedly added another layer to the ongoing rivalry between these two awards, fueling the conversation about who truly deserves the title of the best player in the world.