Centurion – Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the Most Marketable Athlete (MOA) of 2022, despite falling out of favor with Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag has prioritized younger players over the 37-year-old Portuguese great in his starting lineup for the Red Devils this season. As a result, the Portuguese legend has seen limited action with the Red Devils. Consequently, there is widespread conjecture that Ronaldo will leave Manchester United during the January transfer window.
MOA’s ratings are divided into three primary categories: brand strength, audience and reach, and economics. Here is a comprehensive description of the ranking systems.
Second on the list was Serena Williams, who just announced her retirement from professional tennis.
The 41-year-old has not won a Grand Slam tournament since 2017, and the news of her retirement increased her popularity as condolences poured in from the sports world. Williams is also the highest-paid female athlete ever.
Lewis Hamilton is ranked third on the list. Hamilton, a 37-year-old veteran, is a seven-time world champion. Max Verstappen has won the last two championships and, at the age of 25, is poised for a lengthy spell of dominance. His most recent championship was earned in 2020.
Despite being overshadowed by a much younger opponent, Hamilton nevertheless commands a large fanbase in brand recognition and all means of media.
LeBron James (basketball), Lionel Messi (football), Naomi Osaka (tennis), Virat Kohli (cricket), Alex Morgan (football), Sam Kerr (football), and Tom Brady (football) round out the top 10. (American football).
Mohamed Salah, a footballer for Egypt and Liverpool, is the best African on the list.