Macri served as President of the Republic of Argentina from 2015 to 2019, having spent 12 years as President of Boca Juniors from 1995 to 2007 - overseeing a glittering period of success for the club, yielding 17 trophies.

He was also a key figure in Buenos Aries' successful bid to host the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games as erstwhile head of the city council.

The FIFA Foundation was founded as an independent organisation in 2018, focusing on helping to promote positive social change.

Its chief executive is French World Cup-winner Youri Djorkaeff, with a prime focus on education.

This is illustrated by the Football for Schools Programme launched last year, with FIFA allocating it a budget of $100 million (£76.9 million/€90 million).

FIFA is also intending to team up with global partners and sectors to raise $1 billion (£765 million/€907 million) to invest in education programmes.

Mauricio Macri appointed Executive Chairman of FIFA Foundation: https://t.co/FDA1MNotD5

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) January 28, 2020

"It is a great pleasure and honour to announce that Mauricio Macri will be taking up this post at the helm of the FIFA Foundation," FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is also FIFA Foundatin President, said.

"Mauricio is the perfect fit to lead this project, which aims to harness football to benefit society.

"His experience and vision will undoubtedly enable our foundation to step up its efforts and widen its scope of action in order to foster social improvements all over the world."

Macri believes education can help to build bridges and contribute to global progress.

"I am extremely honoured and excited to have been appointed executive chairman of the FIFA Foundation," Macri said.

"I am grateful to President Infantino for putting his trust in me and giving me the opportunity to combine my three passions: education, football and working to forge a brighter future for young people."