According to SportsPro Media, Lionel Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the most marketable athlete globally.
The renowned sports business publication has unveiled its 2023 list of the top 50 marketable athletes, with Messi taking the top spot for the second time in his career. In contrast, Ronaldo, who claimed the top position last year, did not even make the top 10 this time.
Lionel Messi secured the highest rank in the marketability rankings in 2020, and he has repeated this feat following his groundbreaking transfer to Inter Miami in the MLS. The 2022 FIFA World Cup champion has a contract with Inter Miami that allows him to benefit from merchandise sales.
Furthermore, the 36-year-old has a partnership with Apple, the streaming service for MLS matches, as reported by the Mirror. Apple has released a four-part documentary chronicling Messi’s remarkable World Cup victory in Qatar last year.
Conversely, Cristiano Ronaldo has plummeted to the 27th position in the list of the top 50 most marketable athletes. The five-time UEFA Champions League winner departed Europe in January to join Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr. Last year, the 38-year-old claimed the top spot while playing for Premier League powerhouse Manchester United.
Among male footballers, the only one to break into the top 10 is Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, who holds the ninth position.
Several other football stars have also made it into the top 50, including Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (22), Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (26), Al-Hilal’s Neymar (31), Gremio’s Luis Suarez (32), Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (33), Chelsea’s Thiago Silva (34), Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung Min (36), Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (39), and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (40).
In the realm of women’s football, USWNT legends Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe have secured the third and fifth positions, respectively, emphasizing their marketability.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini
ArgentinaThis season he played in total 5 times for 282 minutes for Major League Soccer.
Lionel Messi scored 1 goal for Inter Miami. He procured twice assists. He received no yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 14th in Major League Soccer. In the last match Inter Miami lost 1-0 against Cincinnati.
Inter Miami performance and stats
Inter Miami
Inter Miami is currently 14th in the Major League Soccer with 33 points.
In the last 32 games, it has won 9 times, drawn 6 times, and lost 17 times. In its last match, Inter Miami lost 0-1 against Cincinnati.
It has a negative goal difference after scoring 39 goals and conceding 51.
Inter Miami will play the next match in Major League Soccer against Charlotte on Thursday 19th of October in Fort Lauderdale. The prediction is Inter Miami winning the match.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
PortugalThis season he played in total 8 times for 716 minutes for Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 9 goals for Al Nassr. He procured 5 assists. He received no yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 3rd in Pro League. In the last match Al Nassr drew 2-2 against Abha. The next match in Pro League will be against Dhamk.
Al Nassr performance and stats
Al Nassr
Al Nassr is currently 3rd in the Pro League with 19 points.
In the last 9 games, it has won 6 times, drawn once, and lost twice. In its last match, Al Nassr drawn 2-2 against Abha.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 26 goals and conceding 12.
Al Nassr will play the next match in Pro League against Dhamk on Saturday 21st of October in Riyadh. The prediction is Al Nassr winning the match.
