Who is the best player on the MLB roster, and who stands out in the NFL? While Shohei Ohtani is considered the best in the MLB, the same goes with Patrick Mahomes in the NFL. There’s a long history of competition between the NFL and MLB to field the best athletes in sports. This time it’s between Ohtani and Mahomes. Ohtani is known for popularizing two-way playing in baseball, while Mahomes has redefined the dual-threat quarterback concept. So, who do you think is the best in the business?

Since taking the starting position, the Kansas City Chiefs‘ quarterback has had a remarkable run. Under his leadership, the Chiefs won nine consecutive divisional series, solidifying his status as a well-decorated starting quarterback. In a mere seven years, Mahomes led the Chiefs to five Super Bowl appearances and won three of them. Considering the intense competition in the NFL, this is not an easy feat to achieve. Nonetheless, with a 66.6% completion rate and 32,352 yards, Mahomes is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL, if not the best. “Mahomes is one of just three players with at least three Super Bowl MVPs,” said Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports.

So, what about Ohtani? The modern-day two-way player is taking the baseball community by storm. Ohtani, with his remarkable two-way skills as a pitcher and hitter, is one of the finest among baseball players in the world. Well, much like Mahomes, Ohtani is also a part of the defending World Series champion. Last year, much of the Dodgers’ success was driven by Ohtani’s record-breaking 50-50 season. While he can be well compared to Mahomes in terms of overall influence on the game and clutch moments, it is the global recognition that makes him different from Mahomes.

“If we’re talking worldwide star, it’s Shohei Ohtani,” 3x Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth said to Breakfast Ball. “Domestic only, it’s Patrick Mahomes. Because football, it’s just bigger.”

In America, the NFL is more popular than MLB in terms of attendance, viewership, and cultural influence. And, the craze surrounding the Super Bowl proves that quite well. So, it wouldn’t be entirely wrong to make Mahomes a better household name compared to Ohtani. Well, of course, since Mahomes gets to generate more viewership compared to Ohtani in MLB.

However, things take a U-turn when it comes to global recognition. Ohtani is considered the face of MLB, who runs the place. In the post-Michael Jordan era, LeBron James and Ohtani are considered the faces of American sports. The global popularity of Ohtani is also reflected in this contract value. The 30-year-old slugger currently has a $700 million contract with the Dodgers for 10 years. In contrast, Mahomes signed a 10-year deal worth $450 million with the Chiefs. But what makes Ohtani a global star?

Shohei Ohtani is the blue-eyed boy of American sports

American sports have some of the biggest global stars like Tiger Woods and Jordan. MLB is no exception but they were always deprived of a true blue global face. Remember Derek Jeter and Barry Bonds? While they were some of the biggest brands of their time, they fell short of becoming a global phenomenon. Ohtani fits this gap perfectly. Coming from Japan and excelling in the US, Ohtani got fans from both countries rooting for him. And why not? This is mainly due to his unique two-way playing abilities, second only to one from the current crop of players. Is the next Babe Ruth in the making? This adds up to the substantial media attention and lucrative sponsorship deals for Ohtani. For those unaware, Ohtani is only the third player ever projected to earn $100 million in endorsements in 2025, joining Woods and Roger Federer.

Well, this doesn’t make Mahomes inferior to Ohtani—he remains a bigger household name in the US. But in Ohtani, MLB got the global face it needed for global expansion. Remember the recent Beat Audio promotion? One that featured James, Ohtani, and Lionel Messi. This also proves how Ohtani represents MLB, while Mahomes is yet to achieve this feat. This year, a better season is expected from Ohtani, considering he is set to return to the mound in the next 2-3 months. As his UCL and TJ surgery kept Ohtani away from the mound since 2023. Now that he is all set to again showcase his two-way playing skills, a few more milestones are waiting to be broken.

Both Mahomes and Ohtani are leading the charts in their respective sports and charting out newer milestones. It is just the extensive global recognition that makes Ohtani a true-blue international athlete.

Do you think Ohtani is the face of MLB? Share your thoughts with us below.