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Qatar’s Nasser Al Khelaifi named most influential person in football

Paris, France: France Football magazine named beIN Media Group Chairman and Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al Khelaifi as the most influential person in football.

Al Khelaifi topped the list of 50 international figures thanks to his influence in French and European football, France Football said.

Al Khelaifi oversaw the process of converting Paris Saint-Germain to an international brand in a short time. Besides dominating French football and making big strides in Europe, PSG also saw the sales of club shirts increase from 44,000 in 2011 to more than a million in 2019 and the number of followers on digital platforms move from 500,000 to 87 million.

In the interview with France Football, Al Khelaifi praised several sports figures for their influence such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Aleksander Ceferin, Michael Jordan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“It’s a huge privilege, and surprise, to be nominated alongside such esteemed company,” said Al Khelaifi.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has a unique single-mindedness year after year, and an unmatched strength of character. He still has a desire to get better every day and he is always pushing himself to the limit. I admire this relentless drive and he is a great example for all aspiring athletes. His generosity off the pitch is not always given enough credit as he spends a lot of time and energy giving back.
 
“So too Mr Infantino, who has risen to lead one of the most important and most influential organisations in the world, one that transcends football in its size and scope.

The 46 yeal also said that at PSG the most important part is the institution itself.

“I meet lots of people in the industry, many of whom have great influence. But at Paris Saint-Germain the most important part is the institution itself, we place this above everything and everyone. Those who work at PSG know this already, and it is made clear to everyone who joins on day one.”

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