New data has revealed which players have the most commercial pulling power across the men's and women's games
Now more than ever, football is a business – and that applies to individual players, too, with lucrative contracts on offer and brands vying for exposure at every turn once you achieve a certain status as a professional. But who are the most marketable players across the men's and women's games?
Sports business media company has crunched the numbers, "applying an advanced science that goes beyond vanity metrics to measure which sports stars offer the most value to brands today". Using extensive data analysis, social media monitoring, economic valuations and qualitative research, they have come up with a definitive list of the 50 most marketable athletes in 2023, with each given a marketability score out of 100 – and 22 of them are footballers.
Below, GOAL lists those names from least to most marketable, and there are plenty of surprises…
Getty22Sam Kerr – 71.5/100
A Nike athlete, Kerr is a hugely popular figure and plies her trade for WSL champions Chelsea. The Australian superstar is one of the faces of EA FC 24 and previously FIFA, and ranks 47th in the overall list.
AdvertisementGetty21Mapi Leon – 71.6/100
Barcelona defender Leon has become a cult figure in the women's game, and it helps that she's one of the best in the business. An adidas athlete, she's one of the coolest players around and sits 46th in the overall rankings.
Getty20Marcus Rashford – 73.82/100
Rashford has become a role model both on and off the pitch, thanks to his goalscoring exploits for Manchester United and personal crusade for free school meals for underprivileged children in the UK. The forward wears Nike and has worked with the likes of Burberry in the past. He sits 40th in the overall list.
Getty19Mohamed Salah – 73.88/100
The most prominent Arab player on the planet, Salah has been the face numerous campaigns in his home country, Egypt, where he is a veritable superstar. His popularity in European football is a big help, too. He's 39th in the main rankings.