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FIFA Faces Backlash Over World Cup Best Player Voting System Favoring Popularity
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
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First reported by N12 · Jul 7, 2026
What happened
FIFA's new online voting system for the 2026 World Cup Best Player award has drawn criticism for favoring popularity over performance, leading to controversial winners and player discomfort. The system allows fans to vote frequently, turning the award into a social media popularity contest rather than a merit-based honor.
- 01FIFA's online voting for World Cup Best Player favors popularity over merit.
- 02Casemiro won Best Player despite poor performance, highlighting voting flaws.
- 03Top stars like Ronaldo, Salah, and Messi also won amid controversy.
- 04Players like Jude Bellingham expressed discomfort with the fan-voted awards.
- 05Critics say the system undermines football's team spirit and professionalism.
- 06FIFA prioritizes digital engagement at the expense of objective sporting merit.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
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