WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark has outpaced soccer megastar Lionel Messi on a high-profile sports marketing line-up, despite an eye-opening difference in their bank balances.
This elite roster of the globe's 50 top marketable sports figures is an illustrious chart showcasing athletes by brand appeal. And yet, against the odds, newbie Clark has overtaken some heavy-hitters such as Inter Miami's very own Messi.
The disparity in earnings between Clark and Messi, not to mention other sports legends she surpasses on the list, makes her fourth-place standing all the more remarkable. Outshining the ex-Barcelona maestro, Clark also ranks higher than the formidable Cristiano Ronaldo, F1 ace Lewis Hamilton, and NBA legend Steph Curry.
Athletes are ranked on this list using a trio of criteria: their brand potency, potential marketplace reach, and economic impact - culminating in a score out of 100 that encapsulates an athlete's total marketability. Clark boasts an impressive market value with a rating of 90.2, narrowly beating Messi's score of 89.67, a clear testament to her meteoric rise in the world of sports branding.
SportsPro elaborates on its methodology: "We have blended extensive data analysis, advanced social media monitoring, economic valuations, expert and consumer insights to bring you this definitive list.
"Once again, sophisticated qualitative research was integrated with quantitative marketability measurements, while comprehensive mathematical and statistical formulas from multiple data sources were then applied to determine the final rankings according to each athlete's Total Marketability Score."
Yet, despite her skyrocketing success, 22-year-old Clark still lags behind in the money game. Her net worth is pegged at a humble $3.8million (£2.9m), a staggering $846m (£652m) less than what Lionel Messi boasts, reports the Irish Star.
Even though that might seem a hefty sum, when you stack it against other luminaries on the list, it's modest. In her debut pro season, the Indiana Fever standout pocketed just $76,535 (£59,050).
Fast forward to April, and she's penned a rookie deal spanning four years, totaling a mere $338,000 (£260,782). To put this into perspective, that's barely more than half of what Cristiano Ronaldo, now with Saudi Pro League side, Al Nassr, supposedly banks in a single day.
Per Spotrac, come 2027, Clark's pay packet with Indiana will see a slight boost in her contract's fourth year, topping off at $97,582 (£75,288). Moreover, potential bonuses such as WNBA Rookie of the Year could earn her $5,150 (£3,973), while an All-Star game place could see her bank $2,575 (£1,986), according to USA Today.
Currently, Clark's lined her pockets with 11 plush partnerships, including the likes of Buick, Nike, Gatorade, and State Farm, as reported by On3 . Additionally, it's rumored that league marketing deals could swell her bank account by hundreds of thousands, courtesy of ESPN , albeit that's not set in stone.
On March 27 of this year, rap legend Ice Cube confirmed that his Big3 League, a three-on-three basketball tournament, had extended an offer to Clark after TMZ reported it. This move could have significantly increased her net worth, but she declined the offer.
Clark is undoubtedly on her way to financial success, but how does she stack up against Lionel Messi, whom she surpasses on the SportsPro list?
Celebritynetworth.com estimates the World Cup winner's net worth at a whopping $850million (£654m). Forbes ranks Messi as the second highest-earning football player of the year, with an estimated annual income of $135m (£103m).
The latest MLS salary data reveals that Messi earns a base salary of $12m (£9.24m) and receives an additional $20.4m (£15.7m) from his club, Inter Miami. His total financial package exceeds the payrolls of 22 other MLS franchises, not including performance-related bonuses.
A clause in Messi's contract also grants him a share of the league's Apple TV deal, estimated to be worth around $50m (£38.49m). According to Forbes, Messi earned $75m (£57m) in 2024 from sponsorships alone, and he has a lifetime deal with Adidas and another profitable contract with Konami.
While only surpassed by Simone Biles, who tops the entire directory, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, who ranks second, and NBA legend LeBron James, who rounds out the top three, Clark's meteoric rise has positioned her above numerous sports icons and legends.
Clark might trail many in terms of earnings, but the Fever star currently wields immense influence, which has propelled her above figures such as Novak Djokovic, Kevin Durant, Max Verstappen, and Patrick Mahomes on the list. It looks like the WNBA star's tenure outside the realm of the world's highest-paid athletes is coming to an end.
Local News