Gianni Infantino marked ten years as FIFA president in February, celebrating with a PR campaign featuring a special logo and documentary. Taking over from disgraced Sepp Blatter in 2016 amid FBI investigations uncovering $150 million in bribes, Infantino positioned himself as soccer's reformer. He defeated Sheikh Salman by 115 votes to 88, promising to expand World Cup participation and restore FIFA's reputation.

Today, Infantino earns $6 million annually and maintains relationships with U.S. President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, and Vladimir Putin. He travels on a Qatar-provided jet and recently stayed at Hensol Castle during a FIFA summit. Twice re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, he plans to seek another term in 2027, having reset his term limits after taking office mid-cycle.

The Swiss-Italian lawyer faces criticism for his December 2025 decision to create the FIFA Peace Prize for Trump, which Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness called a breach of FIFA's political neutrality statutes. FIFPRO's Sergio Marchi accused Infantino of creating "bread and circuses" spectacles reminiscent of Nero's Rome. Despite controversies over World Cup ticketing and Saudi Arabia's 2034 hosting award, most football officials remain silent.

Infantino's decade at the helm reveals a complex legacy. While he steered FIFA away from its corruption crisis, his embrace of authoritarian leaders and focus on grand spectacles has raised questions about whether he's truly reformed the organization or simply replaced one form of excess with another. The lack of internal opposition suggests a culture of compliance has taken root.