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News, Blog and GuidesThe Inter Miami star becomes the first soccer play to top the list, following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.
William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Feb 22nd, 2024 11:43 EST0
CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICHEFE
Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami to an opening night victory in their first competitive fixture of 2024. The Herons got their MLS Cup pursuit off to a winning start and Messi was central to the victory, setting up Robert Taylor for the opening goal.
After making a stunning start to life in MLS last year all eyes will be on Messi for the 2024 campaign. He is, by far, the most famous player in the league and he retains the superstar talents that could lead Miami to the title.
His arrival in MLS is expected to spark a burst of interest in soccer and the impact of Miami move can already be seen. Lionel Messi has been named America’s favourite professional athlete, becoming the first soccer player to in the award.
NEW POLL REVEALS LIONEL MESSI MOST POPULAR ATHLETE IN UNITED STATES 🇺🇸@ssrs_research poll has tracked America’s favorite athlete, by quarter, for 30 years and Messi is the first footballer to claim the No. 1 spot, earning the honor for Q4 of 2023. 📈 (1/2) pic.twitter.com/8WFoAhG9aq
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) February 21, 2024
The poll is held every quarter by Social Science Research Solutions (SSRS), a leading sports research group. Since 1994 SSRS’s Sports Poll has asked Americans for their favourite professional athlete and the results show how soccer has struggled for prominence in the past.
Last year Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas explained that the Messi purchase was designed to help boost soccer’s profile in the US: “We’ve succeeded. Expectations are something else, but we’ve succeeded. The fact that Lionel Messi is here, that Sergio Busquets is here, that others are going to come here, that we’re opening new chapters for the sport in this country, we’ve succeeded.”
Which other athletes have been Americans’ favourite?
Over the 30-year span of the poll, Messi is just their eighth athlete to top the list. Respondents are only asked to name their No. 1 sportsperson, meaning that only the very biggest names can make it to the top.
For the first decade the award was dominated by Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls star won six NBA championships during his illustrious career and was, at one point, the favourite professional athlete of around one-in-five US sports fans.
His dominance was broken in 2006 when Tiger Woods began his stint at the top of the rankings. Woods and Jordan are the only two athletes to enjoy a sustained period as Americans’ favourite athlete.
Woods was replaced by Peyton Manning, who then passed on the mantle to Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Tom Brady. Throughout that time, however, Michael Jordan has regularly been ranked at No. 1.
