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Cristiano Ronaldo Crowned World’s Most Admired Sportsperson—Ahead of Messi and Sachin

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Cristiano Ronaldo Crowned Worlds Most Admired Sportsperson—Ahead of Messi and Sachin

Cristiano Ronaldo beats Messi, Sachin Tendulkar to become most admired Sportsperson Globally

In the World’s Most Admired Man survey, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been ranked abovecricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. The study, performed by data analytics firm YouGov, surveyed 42,000 people in 38 countries to come up with the final top-20 ranking.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s fourth most admired man and the most admired sportsman, according to the rankings. Lionel Messi is the second-most admired sportsman and is rated 7 on the list. One of cricket’s all-time greats, Sachin Tendulkar, has been ranked the world’s 12th most admired man and the third most admired sportsman.

Top 20 Most Admired Male Personalities Globally in  2025-2026

  1. Barack Obama
  2. Bill Gates
  3. Xi Jinping
  4. Cristiano Ronaldo
  5. Jackie Chan
  6. Elon Musk
  7. Lionel Messi
  8. Narendra Modi
  9. Vladimir Putin
  10. Jack Ma
  11. Warren Buffet
  12. Sachin Tendulkar
  13. Donald Trump
  14. Shahrukh Khan
  15. Amitabh Bachchan
  16. Pope Francis
  17. Imran Khan
  18. Virat Kohli
  19. Andy Lau
  20. Joe Biden

For the third year in a row, Michelle Obama has been named the world’s most admired woman. Angelina Jolie, an actress, and philanthropist isstill the world’s second most admired woman, ahead of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. In the ‘Most Admired Man list,’ Bill Gates came in second, with Chinese President Xi Jinping coming in third. According to a YouGov poll, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was named the world’s 8th “Most Admired Man.”

World’sMost Admired Women 2025

  1. Michelle Obama
  2. Angelina Jolie
  3. Queen Elizabeth II
  4. Oprah Winfrey
  5. Scarlett Johansson
  6. Emma Watson
  7. Taylor Swift
  8. Angela Merkel
  9. Malala Yousafzai
  10. Priyanka Chopra
  11. Kamala Harris
  12. Hillary Clinton
  13. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
  14. Sudha Murty
  15. Greta Thunberg
  16. Melania Trump
  17. Lisa
  18. Liu Yifei
  19. Yang Mi
  20. Jacinda Ardern

Ronaldo edged out Lionel Messi for fourth place on the list of the world’s most admired male personalities. The Argentine legend came in seventh place (Messi). Former US President Barack Obama has been crowned the world’s most admired man, ahead of Bill Gates and Xi Jinping. Sachin Tendulkar, the cricket star, is the world’s third most admired sportsperson, trailing only Messi and Ronaldo, two of football’s biggest legends.

Tendulkar is widely recognized as one of the best hitters of all time, and his exploits on the field are frequently credited with inspiring a country to take up the sport. Shubman Gill, India’s current Test captain, not the world’s most admired sportsperson, according to the survey.

Click Here: World’s Top 10 Most Powerful Women in 2026 – Leaders Shaping the Future

FAQ 

1. What is the survey that ranks Cristiano Ronaldo as the most admired sportsperson?

The ranking comes from the World’s Most Admired Man survey conducted by YouGov, a global data analytics firm. The study surveyed 42,000 people across 38 countries to create the final list.

2. Why is Cristiano Ronaldo ranked above Messi and Sachin Tendulkar?

Cristiano Ronaldo received the highest admiration score among sportspersons globally due to his iconic career, global fan base, philanthropy, and cultural impact. His influence extends beyond football, contributing to his #4 overall ranking.

3. What rank did Lionel Messi achieve in the survey?

Lionel Messi is ranked #7 in the overall most admired men list and is the second-most admired sportsperson, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

4. Where does Sachin Tendulkar stand in the rankings?

Sachin Tendulkar, one of the greatest cricket legends, is placed at #12 globally and is the third-most admired sportsperson in the survey.

5. Who are the top 3 most admired men in the world according to the survey?

The top three most admired male personalities globally are:

  1. Barack Obama

  2. Bill Gates

  3. Xi Jinping

6. Who topped the list of the world’s most admired women?

Michelle Obama ranked as the world’s most admired woman for the third consecutive year, followed by Angelina Jolie and Queen Elizabeth II.

7. Which Indian personalities appeared in the global admiration rankings?

The following Indian personalities are included:

  • Narendra Modi (#8 overall)

  • Sachin Tendulkar (#12)

  • Shah Rukh Khan

  • Amitabh Bachchan

  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

  • Sudha Murty

  • Virat Kohli

  • Priyanka Chopra

8. How was the data for the admiration ranking collected?

The results are based on a large-scale survey involving tens of thousands of participants across dozens of countries, ensuring a broad global representation.

9. Why is Cristiano Ronaldo admired worldwide?

Ronaldo is admired for:

  • His unmatched football achievements

  • Extraordinary fitness and work ethic

  • Record-breaking career milestones

  • Philanthropic efforts

  • Global brand influence and inspirational success story

10. Is this the first time Ronaldo has topped the sports admiration list?

No. Cristiano Ronaldo often ranks at the top in admiration surveys due to his massive global following, consistency, and legacy. He frequently appears among the Top 5 Most Admired Men worldwide.

11. How did Virat Kohli perform in the admiration survey?

Virat Kohli is ranked as one of the Top 5 most admired sportspersons, reflecting his widespread popularity, leadership, and cricketing excellence.

12. When are the YouGov admiration rankings released?

YouGov typically releases the World’s Most Admired rankings annually, based on surveys conducted throughout the year.

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