LA – Argentinian footballer and Inter Miami’s captain Lionel Messi has become the most popular athlete in the United States, surpassing legendary athletes such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Tiger Woods, according to a poll conducted by SSRS, Essentially Sports reported. It is the first time in 30 years that a soccer player has topped the charts. According to SSRS, players like Jordan, Woods, Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant, and Tom Brady have topped the list every year since 1995. Messi’s announcement of his merger with Inter Miami in June 2023 saw an increase in the US Major League Soccer (MLS) fan base from 35.3% to 37%. The poll further shared that Messi has been more popular in the US since 2021 compared to Cristiano Ronaldo.
