Massimo Busacca

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Massimo Busacca's career is marked by a rare combination of on-field excellence and administrative leadership. His selection for the 2009 Champions League final placed him among the elite referees of his generation, and his subsequent appointment as FIFA's refereeing director underscored the trust the governing body placed in him. His advocacy for VAR and modern referee training has left a lasting impact on how the sport is officiated globally.

AwardsMassimo Busacca's most prestigious accolade came in 2009 when he was named the IFFHS World's Best Referee, an award recognizing the top official in world football for that calendar year. This honor highlighted his exceptional consistency and performance, particularly his handling of the UEFA Champions League final that season.

Honours & Distinctions

UEFA Champions League Final Referee

UEFA·2009

Selected to referee the final between Barcelona and Manchester United in Rome.

UEFA Super Cup Referee

UEFA·2010

Appointed to referee the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco.

FIFA World Cup Referee

FIFA·2010

Officiated at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

FIFA Director of Refereeing

FIFA·2011-present

The highest administrative position in global football refereeing.

Rankings & Lists

IFFHS World's Best Referee

IFFHS·2009