ESPN The Magazine has established a proprietary formula that ranks the top athletes in the world. 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 is a senior writer and explores the reasons why being famous does not necessarily mean you are successful or liked. You can make informed decisions about your favorite athlete by looking at the top 100 athletes around the globe.
Canelo
Saul "Canelo” Alvarez is one of the most highly-paid athletes in the globe. DAZN awarded him a $365 million contract for five years last year. His contract was the longest in sports history. Alvarez is 28 years old and has won five championships, three by knockout. He's also the highest-paid Mexican athlete and won the WBA regular super middleweight title.
Ledecky
The American swimmer, Katie Ledecky, has set the gold standard for female swimming and is arguably the best female athlete of all time. Her participation on the world stage has lasted almost a decade. She won a record number of gold medals, and she is now the most successful female swimmer in history. Ledecky has five world records, five World Championships and five Olympic golds. Ledecky, who is also an Olympic medalist, will compete in Tokyo 2020 Games.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpe became a well-known basketball player in the year 2019. He also opened a basketball club in Athens. The AntetokounBros academy was founded to help underprivileged children play basketball. This program is open to boys and girls aged between 12-16, as well young athletes who wish to coach.
Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe has been a star athlete all over the world. Her activism in fighting for equal pay and racial equality has made her a household name. Rapinoe has been the topic of many articles, including one in The New York Times that examined the impact on the CARES Act. These are just a few examples of her achievements in 2019
Biles
Simone Biles returned to the scene after a short post-Olympic hiatus. She hired Laurent and Cecile as her coaches to keep her attention and eliminated her competitors. It is unknown what her new relationship with Cecile Landi will look like but it is exciting to watch her progress. Biles also announced that she'll be working alongside former UCLA coach Val Kondos Field in the role of executive producer and supervising dancer. She will also use video screens, lighting effects, and an in house DJ.