Credit: Daniel Norin – Unsplash
With a staggering 3.5 billion fans on the planet, soccer is the most popular sport around the world by far and away. And the numbers are only soaring as soccer is gaining ground fast in countries such as India, China, and the U.S. So, who are the superstars driving the soccer boom these days? We bring you five soccer players with icon status in 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo
CR7, as he is often referred to, is not only the star of his country. The Portuguese idol is one of the greatest names in soccer history. With a career spanning legendary clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo boasts an impressive track record of 2 La Liga titles and 5 UEFA Champions League wins, among many other trophies. The Portuguese forward remains the top scorer of all time in the Champions League, securing a swooping 140 goals.
The 5-time Ballon d’Or recipient also won the UEFA Euro 2016 with Portugal. But his popularity reachesway beyond European borders. Ronaldo has achieved a 456 million following on Instagram, making him the world’s most prominent athlete on social media.
Lionel Messi
A generational talent, Lionel Messi is already on par with historic soccer icons like Cruyff or Maradona. The gifted forward is known for his genius moves on the pitch, earning him six Ballon d’Or awards and an equal amount of European Golden shoe awards.
Leo also built a solid fanbase because of his gentle personality and boasts over 346 million followers on his official Instagram account. And the Argentinian superstar only strengthened his popularity when he led his country to the first Copa America victory in 28 years after an epic final against Neymar’s Brazil in 2021. Messi would eventually join Neymar again at the Paris Saint-Germain after spending 15 years at FC Barcelona.
Neymar
Few countries are as passionate about the beautiful game as Brazil. And Neymar quickly took on the mantle of Brazilian icons like Pelé and Ronaldinho to be crowned South American Footballer of the Year twice in his early career. The Brazilian forward soon moved to Barcelona, where he formed part of a talented attacking line-up comprising Messi and Luis Suárez.
One of the most versatile players ever, the Brazilian left his mark on Champions League history with an astonishing 6-1 comeback against PSG in 2017. He also snatched a momentous gold medal in front of his crowds at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Currently a Parisian asset, Neymar has earned a massive following of 176 million fans on IG.
Kylian Mbappé
At the Russian World Cup in 2018, soccer enthusiasts discovered a one-of-a-kind player. At only 19, Kylian Mbappé played an instrumental part in the French squad’s journey toward final victory. The French striker was logically named Best Young Player of the tournament. Since then, Mbappé’s career has been on the rise. And with unparalleled speed and exceptional dribbling abilities, the French superstar is now universally regarded as one of the mostwell-rounded players worldwide.
So, will the current PSG player lead Les Bleus once more to victory in Qatar this year? Kylian Mbappé is certainly topping most bookies’ predictions. And while gambling is banned in the Gulf area, punters can still enjoy sports betting in Qatar online. From competitive odds to lavish bonuses, expert bettors have scoured the internet to pick the best sportsbooks to wager on the World Cup. They also deliver invaluable tips to ensure a safe bet despite local regulations. On top of soccer, online bookies cover popular sports like horse racing or tennis too.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland made headlines with a pricy signing in Manchester City this summer. The Norwegian striker followed in his father’s footsteps, who played defender in City for three years. And the 2022 Premier League champion was not the only major club to pursue the former Borussia Dortmund player.
Although aged 21 only, the Norwegian broke several records already. During the 2020-21 season, he was crowned top scorer of the Champions League. A year before, he had become the first teenage player to score in five consecutive matches at the highest European level. Unfortunately, Haaland will not appear at the Qatar World Cup as Norway didn’t make it past the qualifiers. Still, the Norwegian remains one of the biggest rising stars in the football world.
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