SportsPro have announced the world’s top 50 most marketable athletes for 2022.
The global ranking combines on-field performance and off-field factors such as personal brand development, audience reach and engagement, and social impact.
Using an updated methodology in collaboration with NorthStar Solutions Group, athletes are ranked according to their ‘marketability score’ out of 100.
It’s good news for women’s sport, with a record 22 female athletes featuring on the list. This includes four sportswomen within the top 10.
Without further ado, let’s get into the top 50 most marketable athletes of 2022.
50) Marcus Rashford – Football
49) Harry Kane – Football
48) Rory McIlroy – Golf
47) Katie Taylor – Boxing
46) Novak Djokovic – Tennis
45) Luka Doncic – Basketball
44) Olivia Dunne – College Gymnastics
43) Kevin De Bruyne – Football
42) Mesut Ozil – Football
41) Sydney Mclaughlin – Athletics
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
40) Becky Sauerbrunn – Football
39) Sky Brown – Skateboarding
38) Giannis Antetokounmpo – Basketball
37) Robert Lewandowski – Football
36) Sergio Perez – Formula One
35) George Russell – Formula One
34) Bethany Hamilton – Surfing
33) Max Verstappen – Formula One
32) Bianca Andreescu – Tennis
31) Karim Benzema – Football
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Bianca Andreescu of Canada looks on as she plays against Maria Sakkari of Greece during her Women’s Singles round of 16 match on Day Eight of the 2021 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 06, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
30) Garbine Muguruza – Tennis
29) Eileen Gu – Freestyle Skiing
28) Oksana Masters – Para Rowing and Para Cross Country Skiing
27) Megan Rapinoe – Football
26) Candace Parker – Basketball
25) Charles Leclerc – Formula One
24) Erling Haaland – Football
23) Roger Federer – Tennis
22) Chloe Kim – Snowboarding
21) Katie Ledecky – Swimming
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Roger Federer of Team Europe looks on during Day Two of the Laver Cup at The O2 Arena on September 24, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
20) Rohit Sharma – Cricket
19) Kylian Mbappe – Football
18) Mohamed Salah – Football
17) Neymar – Football
16) Rafael Nadal – Tennis
15) Simona Halep – Tennis
14) Stephen Curry – Basketball
13) Alexia Putellas – Football
12) Emma Raducanu – Tennis
11) Simone Biles – Gymnastics
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 03: Simone Biles of Team United States competes in the Women's Balance Beam Final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
10) Tom Brady – American Football – 47.3
The 45-year-old Brady is one of American football’s most recognisable faces, winning seven Super Bowl titles in 22 seasons.
NFL Football - Philadelphia Eagles v New England Patriots - Super Bowl LII - U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. - February 4, 2018. New England Patriots' Tom Brady walks off dejected after the game. REUTERS/Chris Wattie
9) Sam Kerr – Football – 48.01
Australia and Chelsea star Sam Kerr is the highest new entry on SportPro’s most marketable athletes list.
The 29-year-old has won seven Golden Boots in just six years, doing so in the W-League, NWSL and Women’s Super League.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Sam Kerr of Chelsea scores their team's third goal during the Vitality Women's FA Cup Final match between Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
8) Alex Morgan – Football – 48.07
Morgan has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, and doesn’t look like she’s going to give up anytime soon. The 33-year-old recently finished as the NWSL top goalscorer, hitting the back of the net 15 times for San Diego Wave.
LYON, FRANCE - JULY 02: Alex Morgan of the USA celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
7) Virat Kohli – Cricket – 49.24
The 33-year-old Kohli is often considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time, last year becoming the fastest man to reach 23,000 international runs. He did so in just 490 innings.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Virat Kohli of India during the 1st T20 international match between India and South Africa at Greenfield International Stadium on September 28, 2022 in Thiruvananthapuram, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
6) Naomi Osaka – Tennis – 51.62
At 25-years-old, Osaka already has four Grand Slam titles to her name. She is one of the highest-earning female athletes around, and is also known for her activism.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts during the second set against Danielle Collins of the United States in their Women's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
5) Lionel Messi – Football – 53.27
It’s fair to say that Messi is one of the most recognisable athletes in the world. At 35-years-old, he is coming to the end of his career, but the record seven Ballon d’Ors say it all.
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 19: Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig at Parc des Princes on October 19, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
4) LeBron James – Basketball – 58.5
James is a four-time NBA champion, and has also been given four NBA MVP awards. The 37-year-old is the first player in NBA history to accumulate $1 billion in earnings as an active player.
Basketball star LeBron James
3) Lewis Hamilton – Formula One – 64.58
Hamilton, who has a joint-record seven world titles, also holds the records for the most wins, pole positions, and podium finishes, among others. The 37-year-old is often outspoken about societal issues such as racism and sexism.
SUZUKA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 06: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes talks to the media in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on October 06, 2022 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
2) Serena Williams – Tennis – 67.99
The 41-year-old Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, recently called time on more than 20 years of dominance in tennis. She is the highest earning female athlete of all time.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 12: Serena Williams of the USA holds her daughter Alexis Olympia with the trophy following the Women's Final between Serena Williams and Jessica Pegula of the USA on day seven of the 2020 Women's ASB Classic at ASB Tennis Centre on January 12, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
1) Cristiano Ronaldo – Football – 91.21
Ronaldo takes the top spot of SportsPro's ranking of the world’s top 50 most marketable athletes. The 37-year-old, who currently stars for Manchester United, has received five Ballon d'Or awards during his career.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester United at Goodison Park on October 09, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)