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Messi Tops US Sports Icons List for Brits
6 May
Summary
- Lionel Messi is the most iconic sports figure in America for UK fans.
- Most British fans discovered US sports through individual athletes.
- NFL leads as the top league among UK supporters, followed by MLS.
British fans have overwhelmingly chosen football superstar Lionel Messi as the most iconic figure in American sport. He has surpassed renowned US athletes such as Michael Jordan and Tom Brady in a study polling 1,000 UK-based fans of US sports. Messi has played for Inter Miami CF since July 2023.
The research highlighted that 85% of British supporters initially developed their interest in US sports due to individual athletes. This strong player-centric engagement means 43% would switch teams if their favorite player departed, a figure rising to 77% among 18 to 24-year-olds.
Over two-thirds of these fans have traveled to America for NFL or NBA matches, with many more planning future trips. The NFL is the most popular league among UK fans, capturing 19% of support, narrowly ahead of Major League Soccer (18%) and the NBA (17%).
Social media platforms, particularly YouTube, Instagram, X, and Facebook, are crucial for engagement. However, time zone differences and subscription costs present the main challenges for international fans. This underscores the evolving nature of global fan engagement in the massive US sports market.
