Gianni Infantino is FIFA's ninth president after being elected at the world governing body's extraordinary congress in Zurich.
The FIFA presidential election entered a second round of voting for the first time in 42 years after Infantino of Switzerland secured more backing than pre-vote favourite Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa of Bahrain in the first round, when a two thirds majority was required to win.
A simple majority of more than 50 per cent - 104 votes - was sufficient for victory in the second round.
And Infantino secured 115 votes to Sheikh Salman's 88 to become the second successive Swiss president, after Sepp Blatter.
The 45-year-old lawyer is from Brig in the Valais region of Switzerland, less than six miles from Blatter's hometown of Visp.
FIFA has its first new head since 1998, when Blatter was appointed for the first time.
Blatter was voted in on five occasions, including last May, but he stepped aside days later amid allegations which led to a six-year ban from football-related activity, which he is contesting.
His resignation prompted the world governing body's extraordinary congress in the most pivotal period of FIFA's 112-year history.
