Which are the most popular sports in the world? or what is the most popular sport in the world? These are the questions that are answered in the below article.
The history of sports and games is many thousand years old. Some of the most ancient sports are still played in their modified form. The popularity of sports depends on many factors, one of the biggest factors is the number of fans around the world. Definitely a popular sport will have more fans and followers around the world.
The strategies we have used in the grading of these most famous sports in the world include:
- The number of fans of that particular sports on social media
- The number of professional leagues around the world
- Number of professional people associated with that sports
- The popularity of prominent athletes or players of that sports
- The number of people who follow or watch mega-events of that sports
- Wealth or Net Worth of professional individual or teams associated with that sports
Let’s have a look at these most popular sports in the world.
01. Soccer/Football – 4.1 Billion Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 4.1 Billion |
| Popularity Region | Worldwide Especially Europe & Africa |
| Number of Leagues | More than any other sports |
| Prominent Players | Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar |
| Mega Events | FIFA World Cup, Euro Cup, UEFA Finals, El Classico |
| Popular Leagues | English Primer League, La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Series A |
Soccer/football is the most popular sport in the world.
You may have predicted it already that which will be the most popular among sports. With over 4.1 billion fans around the world, football is considered the most-watched sport around the globe.
Soccer or association football is a worldwide popular sport that is played and watched all around the world especially in Europe and African regions.
The second biggest reason for its top position in the list is its most number of professional leagues in the world. In the FIFA world cup 2018, more than 7.7 million fans visited Russia to watch the game. This huge number is more than any other sports world cup event.
Football’s upcoming world cup 2022 will show the actual number of fans in the world. This event is expected to be the biggest sports event ever in the world.
02. Basketball – 2.7 Billion Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 2.7 Billion |
| Popularity Region | USA, Canada, Europe & Africa |
| Number of Leagues | More than 100 Around the world |
| Prominent Players | LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Dwyane Wade |
| Mega Events | FIBA World Cup, NBA Finals, Olympic Games |
| Popular Leagues | NBA, FIBA, EuroLeague |
Basketball is the 2nd most popular sport in the world with more than 2.7 billion fans in the world.
As fan following is the most powerful aspect in the ranking of popular sports, so basketball has recently beaten cricket for 2nd position. Basketball is more popular in the USA, Canada, Europe, and many other countries in the world. The game has more than 100 leagues in the world.
Basketball has some of the richest athletes in the world. It means this popular sport is paying very high.
03. Cricket – 2.6 Billion Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 2.6 Billion |
| Popularity Region | Asia, South Africa, Australia |
| Number of Leagues | 10+ (Series Based) |
| Prominent Players | Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers |
| Mega Events | ICC World Cup, ICC T20 world cup, Champions Trophy |
| Popular Leagues | IPL, PSL, BPL |
Cricket is the 3rd most popular sport in the world with over 2.6 billion fans around the world.
Cricket is mostly played and watched in Asia, South Africa, and Australia. A large number of people in these regions play, watch, and like cricket. Unlike football, cricket is played mostly in series. But during the last decade, some modifications are applied and some popular cricket leagues are introduced that increased its popularity.
04. Tennis – 1.5 Billion Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 1.5 Billion |
| Popularity Region | Europe, America, Asia |
| Number of Leagues | More than 50 |
| Prominent Players | Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams |
| Mega Events | Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon |
| Popular Leagues | US Open, Davis Cup |
Tennis is the fourth most popular sport in the world with more than 1.5 billion fans.
There are more than 50 professional tennis leagues around the world with a number of mega-events. This is a different type of sport with a single or two team members.
Mega-events and big rivalries matches have more than 1.5 billion fans.
05. Boxing – 900 Million Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 900 Million |
| Popularity Region | USA, Mexico, Japan |
| Number of Leagues | More than 50 |
| Prominent Players | Floyd Mayweather, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson |
| Mega Events | Boxing at the Olympics Games, World Boxing Championships |
| Popular Leagues | Ultimate Fighting Championship, One Championship |
Boxing is the fifth most popular sport in the world with more than 900 million fans around the world.
Another popular and powerful factor about boxing that made it popular, is the individual wealth and net worth of players. Some boxers are listed among the richest athletes in the world.
People worldwide, especially in the USA, Mexico, and Japan like and watch boxing.
06. Volleyball – 900 Million Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 900 Million |
| Popularity Region | Brazil, China, Russia |
| Number of Leagues | More than 50 |
| Prominent Players | Kerri Walsh Jennings, Giba, Ivan Zaytsev |
| Mega Events | Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup |
| Popular Leagues | FIVB Volleyball World League, Federation Internationale de Volleyball |
Volleyball is the 6th most popular sport in the world right now with almost 900 million fans.
Volleyball became more popular during the last decade due to the Olympic Games. It jumped up into the most popular sports in the world because a huge increase was noticed in its followers in the world.
Volleyball is one of the most-watched events in the Olympic games and its world cup is also one of the most popular sports events in the world.
07. Rugby – 500 Million Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 500 Million |
| Popularity Region | USA, England, France |
| Number of Leagues | More than 20 |
| Prominent Players | David Pocock, Jonah Lomu, Dan Carter |
| Mega Events | Olympic Games, World Cup |
| Popular Leagues | Super League, National Rugby League |
Rugby is the 7th most popular sport in the world with 500 million fans around the world.
Rugby is one of the older sports in the world that is still played with some modifications. Olympic Games have boosted up Rugby’s fan following up to 500 million.
Rugby has more than 20 leagues around the world but the Olympic games and world cup made it one of the most popular sports in the world.
08. ICE Hockey – 500 Million Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 500 Million |
| Popularity Region | Canada, United States, Russia |
| Number of Leagues | More than 30 |
| Prominent Players | Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Steve Yzerman |
| Mega Events | Winter Olympics, Stanley Cup, World Cup |
| Popular Leagues | NHL, KHL, American Hockey League |
Ice hockey is the 8th most popular sport in the world right now.
It has around 500 million fans that made it one of the most followed and most-watched sports around the globe. It is a contact team sport which is played on ice. Ice hockey is one of the most entertaining sports in the world.
This form of hockey is more popular in Canada, America, and Russia. That is why Ice hockey is one of the most popular American sports of the time.
09. Baseball – 480 Million Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 480 Million |
| Popularity Region | United States, Mexico, Cuba |
| Number of Leagues | 10 Plus |
| Prominent Players | Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar |
| Mega Events | World Series, World Baseball Classic |
| Popular Leagues | MLB, Minor League Baseball, National League |
Baseball is the 9th most popular sport in the world with more than 480 million fans.
The sport is more popular and played in the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. It is also played in many other countries of the world. Baseball is also a bat and ball sport like cricket but its rules are far different from cricket.
10. Golf – 450 Million Fans
| QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of Fans | 450 Million |
| Popularity Region | United States, Italy, NewZealand |
| Number of Leagues | More than 10 |
| Prominent Players | Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson |
| Mega Events | Olympic Games, Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup |
| Popular Leagues | PGA TOUR, LPGA, THE PLAYERS Championship |
Golf is the 10th most popular sport in the world with more than 450 million fans around the world.
Golf is more popular in the United States and New Zealand. It has some of the richest athletes in the world like Tiger Woods.
*Names of Prominent Players are based on their number of social media fans.
Quick Review – Most Popular Sports
Here is a quick recap of what we have discussed above. The most popular sports in the world are:
- Football/Soccer – 4.1 billion fans
- Basketball – 2.7 billion fans
- Cricket – 2.6 billion fans
- Tennis – 1.5 billion fans
- Boxing – 900 million fans
- Volleyball – 900 million fans
- Rugby – 500 million fans
- Ice Hockey – 500 million fans
- Baseball – 480 million fans
- Golf – 450 million fans
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