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9 months ago
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As part of the Footballco Business Podcast, Michael Long, editorial director of SportsPro, spoke about Lionel Messi, who tops the ranking of the 50 most marketable athletes.
With Messi topping SportsPro’s latest 50 Most Marketable Athletes list and a total of 22 footballers, Michael talked about what makes the sport so dominant and how the Inter Miami superstar beat out players like LeBron James , Alex Morgan and Lewis Hamilton to move into first place.
Long said: “There is this culture of the court, this culture of sports and entertainment that we see in the NBA and the NFL, more than anywhere else. And I think he (Messi) is now rubbing shoulders not only with (David) Beckham and other football greats from yesterday and today, but also all these other cultural icons from the world of sport and entertainment. It takes him into a different dimension, I think, that we haven’t really seen around Messi and we certainly didn’t see when he was at Barcelona.”
A major commercial impact
“But I think he has the potential to have a Beckham-type impact, a commercial impact on MLS, however long he spends in the league, until the next World Cup, which could be ultimately its swan song. A match made in marketing heaven.”
Messi comes out on top in part because he publicly supports causes and charities, factors that are becoming increasingly important in sports marketing. Mr. Long added: “From an economic standpoint, its market value and assessed value rank it very high. But there is also his public support for environmental and social causes for which he is not necessarily well known. (He’s a UNICEF ambassador, he has the Leo Messi Foundation, he supports other environmental initiatives and things like that. So that worked in his favor. “I think that kind of cause element is really important for brands these days when they partner with athletes. »
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
