ESPN FC is counting down the 50 most influential men and women in football, as compiled by our editors and writers from around the world.
MOST INFLUENTIAL: 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-6 | 5-1
40. Michael Lauber (Swiss Attorney General)
In 2015, Lauber's office began a criminal investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding and voting process, with money-laundering allegations taking particular precedence. He admits it could take years to conclude, and FIFA only passed on the results of its own 22-month internal investigation to Swiss authorities in March. Lauber has said that he does not mind if his findings force the removal of either tournament, although that is unlikely, not least because of the proceedings' length. However, when his work is complete, there could be uncomfortable revelations for some who have been involved at football's highest levels.
39. Fatma Samoura (FIFA general secretary)
After the United Nations World Food Programme, the day-to-day running of FIFA might be considered a relatively easy task. But the first woman and non-European to hold such an elevated position was, at least in part, appointed to rehabilitate the organisation's image, which won't be straightforward. Samoura holds FIFA's second-most influential position, and she can serve as a check on president Gianni Infantino's power. The previous general secretary was Jerome Valcke, who is currently under investigation by the Swiss authorities.
38. Jorge Sampaoli (Argentina manager)
Lionel Messi's status as the undisputed greatest player of all time would be confirmed if he can win a World Cup. To do that, Sampaoli will be key but the boss's first task is to ensure Argentina, currently outside the automatic qualifying places in South America, make it to Russia. He revitalised Chile, leading them to 2015 Copa America glory, and is now tasked with doing the same for the country of his birth. Argentina have reached three finals since 2014, but 1993 was the last time they won an international tournament. Indeed, Sampaoli's job is perhaps one of the most interesting in world football.
37. Jack Ma (AliBaba Group founder and Guangzhou Evergrande owner)
The richest man in China and owner of six-time defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande is at the forefront of a league that has already proved it isn't just for aging stars looking for a lucrative last contract, with Oscar (25) and Axel Witsel (28) among the younger players enticed. The challenge is to maintain its growth, especially with the Chinese government capping the number of foreign players each team can add. Outside his homeland, Ma's e-commerce company, which he founded in 1999, has signed an eight-year sponsorship deal with FIFA.
36. Alexey Miller (Gazprom chief executive)
When you think about behind the scenes influence in football, Miller is a perfect example through his role in Gazprom. In 2005, the natural gas company took a controlling interest in Zenit Saint Petersburg, investing millions toward, among other things, a new stadium. Sponsorship deals of varying size followed with Schalke, Red Star Belgrade and Chelsea, and Gazprom has also become an "official partner" for the Champions League and World Cup, the next edition of which takes place in its home nation. Miller, who previously worked under Vladimir Putin in the Saint Petersburg mayor's office, has overseen this colossal investment, to the extent that its name is now indelibly linked with the top events in the game.
35. Philippe Blatter (InFront Sports president and chief executive)
As the man in charge at marketing company InFront Sports, the nephew of Sepp Blatter is one of the major figures in sports television rights. Since Chinese investment group Wanda bought InFront in February 2015, Blatter has arguably become even more influential as his responsibility will now not only extend to showing the World Cup in Asia, but it will also be involved in the expansion of the game in China. This former management consultant, who has been at InFront since 2005, is perhaps one of the most fascinating figures in the business side of football.
34. Ahmad Ahmad (CAF president)
Issa Hayatou had served as president of the African confederation, the second-biggest in FIFA with 54 nations, for 29 years before he was beaten in this year's election by Ahmad, the president of Madagascar's FA. Hayatou had outstayed his welcome and was too closely associated with old failures and scandals; Ahmad's appointment represents hope that he will accelerate development in Africa. He has promised greater transparency and a sensible investment of funds. After winning the election, Ahmad was carried on the shoulders of his supporters and pledged: "When you try to do something, you mean that you can do it. If I can't do it, I never stand."
33. Roman Abramovich (Chelsea owner)
He takes more of a back seat these days, with director Marina Granovskaia, technical director Michael Emenalo and manager Antonio Conte running things, but Abramovich still signs the cheques and is estimated to be worth around $8.8bn. Perhaps the most significant recent development is that much of the club's spending is self-supported; the policy of buying youngsters, then selling them on at a profit, paying off handsomely. Abramovich was also part of his native Russia's successful World Cup bid and, at the behest of Vladimir Putin, has invested in building infrastructure ahead of next year's tournament.
32. Theo Theodoridis (UEFA general secretary)
Now in the role previously held by Gianni Infantino, Theodoridis has worked at UEFA since 2008 and had been deputy general secretary from 2010; now he is one of football's leading officials in a governing body that, as with FIFA, has undergone a radical shake-up. There have been questions from some quarters over his relationship with Olympiakos in his home country: The club has been beset by match-fixing allegations, and his father, Savvas, is its vice president. But Theodoridis Jr. has never been implicated in any of the problems that have enveloped the Greek domestic game and is trusted within UEFA.
31. Alejandro Dominguez (CONMEBOL president)
Another confederation president who inherited a crisis-ridden organisation; Dominguez said he was taking over at the time of "the biggest crisis CONMEBOL has ever suffered," following the 2015 arrests of several influential figures in South American football, including his three predecessors. So far, Dominguez seems to have steered a relatively safe ship. Indeed, he was selected this year to chair FIFA's finance committee and waived the traditional $500,000 payment for the task. Dominguez is a keen advocate of video technology and supports using TV replays in the next Copa Libertadores.
MOST INFLUENTIAL: 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-6 | 5-1