“Only Outside of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo”- Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Hailed Wrexham Star Paul Mullin To Be Among Most Popular Players in America

It’s no secret that when Hollywood heavyweights Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquired Wrexham AFC, it had to have been more than just a passion project. After the Welsh club’s sensational victory at the National League, it proves that their guidance had an integral part to play in transforming the strugglers into champions.

Naturally, a great deal of fame and admiration has been pushed onto the team, and individual players. Especially, Wrexham star Paul Mullin who scored 38 goals in the league and had a strong hand in their promotion. His fame has been to a level to which the chief owners have drawn parallels to some of the most renowned names in the world of soccer—Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Paul Mullin hailed among the most popular soccer players

In an interview with the Times, Paul Mullin talked about the words of appreciation that his owners had for him. He first talked about Ryan Reynolds saying, “I genuinely think in his own head he [Reynolds] actually means that at that moment”.

Mullin then went on to reveal, “He and Rob say, ‘You do not understand how famous you are in America — only outside of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and some Premier League players'”. This may seem like an extreme claim. However,  it has to be taken into consideration the impact Wrexham’s story of persistence and success has made in America.

Dive Deeper: “I Didn’t Think They’d Stay” – Ex-Wrexham Coach Firmly Believes, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Have Not Only Revived the Club, but Also His Career

The tale of how Mullin and his teammates rose through the ranks has struck a chord among US fans. In America, the 154-year-old club has reached huge popularity since Ryan and Rob’s takeover. This has been prominently reflected by a major stat in which Wrexham beat the MLS in America.

Wrexham more popular than MLS in America

Google Trends data reveals that search rates for Wrexham AFC have outpaced those of the Major League Soccer in America. Following Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s takeover of the club, there has been a surge of public interest in Wrexham.

This year their search rate spiked significantly after they sealed their promotion to League Two. Furthermore, their game against Sheffield United in FA Cup generated a surge in online searches for the club. On the other hand, while search rates of MLS spiked at the end of February they gradually decreased afterward. This has resulted in Wrexham being more searched than Major League Soccer this year.

WATCH THIS STORY: Wrexham Owners Net Worth Comparison

What are your thoughts on the popularity of Wrexham? Let us know in the comments.