Lionel Messi claims top spot in World's 10 most Marketable Athletes -

October 18, 2023

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Lionel Messi claims top spot in World’s 10 most Marketable Athletes

Sources are claiming that 2022 FIFA World Cup winner and World Cup’s golden ball winner Lionel Messi is inevitably going to win his 8th Ballon D’or award when the annual ceremony takes place on Monday, October 30 at the Theatre Du Chatelet in Paris.

But 12 days before the 67th edition, Messi has become the Most Marketable Athlete in the world, dethroning his Portuguese counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo who topped the list last year. Listed by Sports Pro media, 2023’s Most Marketable athlete ranking included the most comprehensive research ever in the 14-year history of this list.

This year's #SP50MM top ten…

1️⃣ Lionel Messi
2️⃣ LeBron James
3️⃣ Alex Morgan
4️⃣ Giannis Antetokounmpo
5️⃣ Megan Rapinoe
6️⃣ Mikaela Shiffrin
7️⃣ Lewis Hamilton
8️⃣ Simone Biles
9️⃣ Kylian Mbappe
🔟 Max Verstappen pic.twitter.com/sxdIFH9TQz

— SportsPro (@SportsPro) October 17, 2023

This is the 2nd time that Leo Messi has become the Most Marketable athelete with his first appearance coming in 2020 when he was a FC Barcelona player. With that, Messi becomes the only Footballer to top the chart twice while his former PSG team mate Kylian Mbappe is 9th, a place above German Formula 1 ace Max Verstappen.

2 Women footballers also find themselves in this list. USA’s Alex Morgan and 2019 Femini Ballon D’or winner Megan Rapinoe are at 3rd and 5th, much above Frenchman Kylian Mbappe. Elsewhere in the top 10, Basketball star LeBron James finished 2nd while Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo took the 4th place.

In the bottom half of Top 10 Amrican Skier Mikeala Shiffrin, United Kingdom’s F1 racer Lewis Hamilton, American Gymnast Simone Biles are No. 6, 7 and 8 respectively. Mbappe and Verstappen conclude the Top 10.

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A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Meanwhile if we talk about Lionel Messi then there are multiple reasons why he is No.1 on this list. Firstly, he won the FIFA World Cup last year which increased his popularity as well as brand value. The extent was such that his Instagram post with the WC trophy became the most liked photo on the social media platform with 75 million+ likes.

6 months after lifting the elusive World Cup title, Lionel Messi joined David Beckham owned Inter Miami with a couple of mind blowing clauses in his contract. Sports apparel giants and Messi’s sponsors Adidas played a part in Inter Miami signing the player by handing him a lucrative contract as well sharing of revenue of new jerseys sold.

Apple TV, Major League Soccer’s official broadcasting partners also ensured to share some revenue with Messi from new subscribers. All in all, the 36-year-old has more than $150 Millions in his 2 and half year contract with Miami. So there are very less doubts about him being the Most Marketable Athlete in the world.