SportsPro's representatives Michael Long and Sam Carp discuss the process behind the 2023 50 Most Marketable Athlete list. They delve into the reason why Lionel Messi topped the rankings, the significance of authenticity in athlete branding, the rise of athlete influencers due to NIL, and they also have a quiz about the list.
Authenticity is a crucial factor in athlete marketability, with examples of female athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka embodying it successfully.
Lionel Messi's high marketability is attributed to his unique appeal, strong brand strength, and his involvement in charitable causes and commitment to the environment.
Deep dives
Overview of the Podcast
The podcast episode discusses the release of the '50 Most Marketable Athletes' list. The list ranks the power players in the world of sport based on their marketability. It is the 14th iteration of the list and the most comprehensive assessment yet. The methodology has evolved over the years and now incorporates data-driven analysis, qualitative research, and athlete brand strength. The evaluation period for the list was from June 2022 to August 2023. The podcast highlights the importance of authenticity in athlete marketability and how it factors into the rankings. It also mentions the impact of new regulations, like name, image, and likeness, on the marketability of college athletes.
Lionel Messi's Ranking
Lionel Messi claims the number one spot on the '50 Most Marketable Athletes' list. He scores highly in multiple categories, including athlete brand strength, total addressable market, and triple bottom line. His high scores are attributed to his unique appeal, strong brand strength, and his on-field performance. The podcast emphasizes how Messi's actions, such as his involvement in charitable causes and commitment to the environment, contribute to his high marketability. The episode also mentions his recent achievements, like winning the World Cup and his move to Inter Miami, which have contributed to his momentum and continued marketability.
Authenticity and Female Athletes
The podcast discusses the importance of authenticity in athlete marketability and how it relates to female athletes. It highlights the success of female athletes like Simone Biles, LeBron James, Naomi Osaka, and Lewis Hamilton in embodying authenticity, which resonates with audiences and brands. The discussion delves into the challenge of quantifying authenticity and how it includes factors such as a genuine representation of an athlete's true self, engagement with audiences, and alignment with social causes. The episode also mentions the rise of female athletes in the rankings, attributed to their ability to engage with younger demographics, their activism, and their influence on social media.
Notable Changes in Athlete Rankings
The podcast points out some notable changes in athlete rankings. It mentions the drop in marketability of Canelo Alvarez, who was once ranked fourth but is now ranked 116th. The discussion highlights the challenges faced by combat sports athletes in maintaining marketability. The episode also mentions the decline in the ranking of Virat Kohli, who dropped from seventh to 57th. Possible reasons for his drop include a smaller audience reach and a transitional period in his career with changes in captaincy. The podcast concludes by highlighting that being ranked in the top 50 or even in the top 100 is still a significant achievement in terms of marketability and brand appeal.
SportsPro's annual 50 Most Marketable Athlete list is out now to provide a definitive guide to the power players of global sports. In this episode, host Tom Bassam chats to SportsPro's Michael Long and Sam Carp about how we put the list together alongside our 50MM partner, Northstar Solutions Group.
Talking points:
How the 2023 50MM list came together (1:23)
Why is Lionel Messi number one? (7:19)
Why authenticity matters (11:38)
NIL and the rise of athlete influencers (16:36)
QUIZ: How well do we know 50MM? (21:53)
This podcast is part of SportsPro's 2023 Athlete Week, which will also see the launch of our latest 50 Most Marketable Athletes list, in partnership with Northstar Solutions Group. Check out all our #SP50MM content on the dedicated 50mm.sportspromedia.com digital hub.
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