For the second time, Lionel Messi has emerged as the top marketable athlete, while last year’s winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, has dropped 26 places. The Argentine football superstar has clinched the top spot on the list of the world’s most marketable athletes for the second time, as revealed by new data analysis.
A major accomplishment for Messi during the 2022-2023 period was winning the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar. Following this success, the 36-year-old made a lucrative move from Paris Saint-Germain to MLS, increasing his global audience reach.
Preparations for potentially securing an eighth Ballon d’Or at the end of October are underway, further boosting Messi’s standing in the sports world. His on-field triumphs have contributed significantly to his marketability, leading to his return to the top spot on the list after previously ranking first in 2020.
Interestingly, only four footballers made it to the top ten on the list, with NBA superstar LeBron James securing the second position, and NBA All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo ranking fourth.
Conversely, last year’s top athlete, Cristiano Ronaldo, plummeted to 27th place after joining Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Below is the full list of the top 10 most marketable athletes:
1. Lionel Messi (football)
2. LeBron James (basketball)
3. Alex Morgan (football)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (basketball)
5. Megan Rapinoe (footballer – retired)
6. Mikaela Shiffrin (alpine skiing)
7. Lewis Hamilton (F1)
8. Simone Biles (gymnastics)
9. Kylian Mbappe (football)
10. Max Verstappen (F1)
![Lionel Messi tops a list of the most marketable athletes]()
