Lionel Messi had also defeated LeBron James in 2020’s list.

“Had a million times larger impact” – LeBron James gets dethroned by $650 million worth Lionel Messi as most marketable athlete in the world; fans react

Commercial success is just as vital as performance on the field for athletes as they make difference via their plays. Without question, two of the most well-known athletes in the world right now are LeBron James and Lionel Messi.

Even though they play different sports, they have always been compared, not in terms of the sport itself, but rather in terms of marketing, publicity, and other relevant parameters on the basis of their reach.

And now, Lionel Messi, currently a forward with Inter Miami, is ranked No. 1 among the world’s 50 most marketable athletes by SportsPro, surpassing the great LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. This well-crafted ranking extends beyond mere sporting accomplishments.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup victor has previously outwitted James in the Most Marketable Athletes competition. Above James, Messi had also won his first “MM” championship in 2020. James was third at that point. Although the Lakers star is currently ranked second, in the end, he was the first to win it in 2010.

 

First off, many regard soccer as the most popular sport globally out there. It is the sport that receives the greatest media attention and conversation. Because Messi plays a sport that millions of people watch, this element contributes to the domination of Argentine soccer superstar worldwide.

Fans react to Lionel Messi surpassing LeBron James for World’s 50 most marketable athletes

Messi gained an added advantage over his already global fame when he decided to play for Major League Soccer (MLS) in the USA. His fame aligns well with the MLS philosophy of using marketing to promote themselves. The Barca legend is undoubtedly receiving more attention and fan interaction from MLS than he has ever had. However, this recent ‘victory’ led some fans to question James’ marketability and his status as the most well-known athlete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite playing nearly opposing sports, James and Messi, each have a significant amount of market and fame. Both players are near their retirement age; perhaps they have one or two more years to go. Though the topic of who is the best will never go away, each of them continues to make significant contributions to the sports world.