ESPN The Magazine has created a proprietary formula to rank the most popular athletes around the globe. The Sports Analytics department of ESPN ranked 800 athletes based upon three factors that impact fame: Google trends score, endorsement dollars, and social media following. Peter Keating, senior writer for the magazine, discusses why fame is not synonymous with success or being liked. A look at the top 100 athletes in the world can help you make an informed decision about your favorite athlete.
Canelo
Saul "Canelo” Alvarez ranks among the top-paid athletes around the world. DAZN signed him a 5-year, $365m deal last year. His contract was one of the most significant in sports history. Alvarez (28 years old) has won five championships. Three of them were by knockout. Additionally, Alvarez is the highest-paid Mexican wrestler and has been awarded the WBA "regular' super middleweight title.
Ledecky
American swimmer Katie Ledecky is undoubtedly the best female athlete of all times. For almost a decade she has been competing on the international stage, winning an unprecedented 15 gold medals. Ledecky, in addition to her Olympic golds has five world records. She also won five World Championships. She is also an Olympic gold medalist and will compete in the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpe became a well-known basketball player in the year 2019. He has also launched a basketball academy in his hometown of Athens, Greece. The AntetokounBros academy was founded to help underprivileged children play basketball. This program is for boys and girls aged 12-16 years old, as well as young athletes interested in coaching.
Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe may be the most well-known and respected athlete in the world. Megan Rapinoe is also well-known for her activism, particularly in the fight for equal wages and racial justice. Rapinoe is the subject of numerous articles, including a recent New York Times article about the impact the CARES Act has had on Rapinoe. These are just a few examples of her achievements in 2019
Biles
Simone Biles returned to the sport in 2018, after taking a post-Olympic leave. To keep the spotlight on her, she hired Laurent Landi and Cecile Landi to be her coaches. She also removed her competition. Although it is not yet known how her new relationship will turn out, it's exciting to watch her grow. Biles revealed that she will be working as an executive producer and choreographer with Val Kondos Field, a former UCLA coach. Biles will also use video screens, pyrotechnics and an in-house DJ.