Soccer has undeniably birthed some of the most iconic figures in the world of sports. Regardless of gender, the beautiful game has provided a stage for remarkable talents who have captured the hearts of fanbases spanning the globe. However, now the spotlight turns to two contrasting figures within the soccer realm: the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo and the retired Megan Rapinoe. Today, we explore the intriguing factors that make Rapinoe, despite her retirement, a more marketable force than the immensely wealthy Ronaldo, whose fortune surpasses $500 million.

In today’s conventional world, soccer players are not only making strides on the pitch. The exceptional names of this sport also carry greater significance off the pitch as well. Additionally, both Ronaldo and Rapinoe are revered names in their own soccer domains. But despite the world being well aware of who leads in all aspects, it’s the most unexpected candidate who manages to steal the limelight.

Thanks to the courtesy of SportsPro, sports fanatics around the world were recently able to get an insight into the most marketable athletes of 2023. While there are some surprise entries in the list of 125 global athletes, let’s turn our attention towards Cristiano Ronaldo and Megan Rapinoe.

Why is Megan Rapinoe more marketable than Cristiano Ronaldo?

Interestingly, with a marketability score of 90.14, Rapinoe finished in fifth place. Meanwhile, to everyone’s surprise, the jack of all trades, Ronaldo, secured 27th place with a marketability score of 78.26.

So why is the Portuguese superstar, who has a reputation for bossing the advertisements and has often endorsed some renowned brands, trailing behind other athletes, including Rapinoe, who has retired from the very same sport? Well, many may start a dispute on this, but the geographical location has played a bigger role in the marketable judgment.

Rapinoe was born and brought up in America. Even after hanging up her boots, the former USWNT star continues to live in her homeland. On the other hand, Ronaldo was born and brought up in Portugal. While the legendary player has called numerous places home over the years, today he finds himself in a rather unconventional location: Saudi Arabia.

Now, let’s shift our focus away from sports for a moment. The United States of America has historically been and still remains one of the world’s leading nations. The country boasts a rich tapestry of economic, brand value, and development. It also surpasses other nations on various fronts, and Saudi Arabia is no exception. In fact, over the years, the United States has evolved into a global hub for sponsors, paving the way for growth in all aspects, whether it’s in the corporate, financial, or sports worlds.

Therefore, athletes within America have much greater benefits than athletes worldwide. So it isn’t surprising to see $500 million-rich Ronaldo trailing behind $5 million-rich Rapinoe in terms of marketability.

The 2023 marketable athlete list says it all!

This can be proved further if we look at the top 10 on the list. Ronaldo’s arch-nemesis, Lionel Messi, has topped the list with a score of 94.81. The rest of the top five include LeBron James (92.75), Alex Morgan (92.32), Giannis Antetokounmpo (90.53), and Megan Rapinoe (90.14). The list is followed by Mikaela Shiffrin (89.91), Lewis Hamilton (89.81), Simone Biles (89.48), Kylian Mbappe (89.00), and Max Verstappen (88.22).

Now, if we examine the top 10, all the first five, including Shiffrin and Biles, are either American or play in the United States. This is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that geographical factors have played a significant role in the marketability list. Furthermore, directing our attention to the leading candidate on the list brings up another crucial question: Is Ronaldo responsible for this low marketability score?

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Is CR7 responsible for his marketability score?

Hypothetically, things would have been different for Ronaldo if he had chosen to play in the United States, just like Messi. It’s clear that Messi’s transfer to Inter Miami this year has helped the Argentinian superstar boost his name and brand value within the American landscape. From box office-packed stadiums to sold-out Miami shirts, the 36-year-old’s popularity in the country has witnessed an incredible urge. So, this is another aspect of proving the geographical aspect.

One can widen their eyebrows even more after knowing that Messi, who has merely been in the States for just a few months, is overshadowing big American names like LeBron, Morgan, Rapinoe, Shiffrin, and Biles. So yes, without a doubt, had Ronaldo been in MLS instead of the desert country, then he too would have been competing with such names.

In Ronaldo’s mind, he still believes his arrival in the Middle East will further boost his and the Gulf Country’s image in all aspects. However, the current market scenario suggests there’s still time for Saudi Arabia to dominate the global market, especially that of the US.

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Be that as it may, time changes, and so does the global market. Who knows? Perhaps things will be different in future years. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.