NBA superstar Stephen Curry and soccer ace Paul Pogba have been ranked as the two most marketable athletes in the world.

Warriors point guard Curry, 28, – who recently became the league’s first ever unanimous MVP – tops the SportsPro 50 list after a stunning season, becoming the second basketball player to do so after LeBron James.

Juventus midfielder Pogba, 23, takes second spot after another impressive season in Italy which saw the highly-rated playmaker win a league and cup double with the Old Lady. He is now preparing for Euro 2016 with host nation France.

Previous athletes to hit top spot include tennis player Eugenie Bouchard, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Barcelona striker Neymar.

World number one golfer Lydia Ko is the highest ranked women on this year’s list in seventh.

But what does ‘most marketable’ actually mean then?

To put it quite simply, it’s all about who has the highest potential to make sporting brands the most money through successful advertising campaigns.

SPMM 50 ranks its list based on the marketing potential of athletes over the next three years, considering factors like age, home market and charisma.

These factors probably have a lot to do with the reason that Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor ranks as the highest new entry to the list at number 11 after his meteoric rise to the top of the UFC.

Michael Long, the Americas editor at SportsPro, added: “Our yearly rankings have always sought to highlight the athletes whose personal exploits ensure sport remains a compelling proposition for brand marketers.

“Of the 50 exceptional sportsmen and women to feature on the list in 2016, none have captured the imagination over the past 12 months quite like Stephen Curry.

“Curry is now among the most exciting, revered and talked-about individuals in world sport.

“This year – perhaps more so than in any of the previous six – top spot was never in doubt.”

Source: SportsPro

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