Shubman Gill More Commercially Popular Than Messi and Ronaldo? Know the Full Truth of Sportspro Ranking

For the past few days, a discussion has been raging on social media and in the sports world - Indian cricketer Shubman Gill has been placed 13th in the Sportspro and NorthStar Solutions Group's "50 Most Marketable Athletes 2026" list, ahead of football legends Lionel Messi (27th) and Cristiano Ronaldo (14th). This news has excited Indian fans, but it has also raised many questions. Is Gill's global popularity really greater than that of Messi and Ronaldo? Before seeking an answer to this question, it is important to understand what this list is and how it is prepared. This is not a ranking of sporting performance. It is a commercial marketability list that measures athletes' brand value, growing popularity, and commercial potential. Sportspro has been publishing this list for the past 17 years. The current list is based on the period from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2026. It considered 1,202 athletes from 70 sports, shortlisting 247 of them to be included in the final 50. The evaluation used 27 indicators, including social media followers, viewership, search trends, sentiment, and partnerships with over 3,000 brands. Overall, hundreds of data points were analysed for each athlete. Most importantly, what is the scoring method? The total 100 points are divided into three categories: Brand Equity (45 points), Momentum (40 points), and Commercial Trajectory (15 points). Brand Equity reflects an athlete's established brand strength, while Momentum indicates how fast their commercial popularity is growing. Commercial Trajectory measures future potential. Thus, this list gives more weight to athletes who are rising rapidly, rather than legends who are already at the top and whose growth rate has slowed. This is why Shubman Gill, who is India's Test and ODI captain and a rising star, is placed so high on the list. India is the world's largest cricket market, and the commercial popularity of its players is growing rapidly. Gill is young and in the early stages of his career, so his "Momentum" score is very high. On the other hand, Messi and Ronaldo have reached the peak of their careers, and their brand equity is near saturation. There is limited room for further growth, so they score lower on the Momentum pillar. This is why Gill surpasses them. But this does not mean that Gill's global recognition or earnings are greater than Messi's and Ronaldo's. This is an important distinction that needs to be understood. In the list, Gill is 13th, Ronaldo 14th, and Messi 27th. But this is just a ranking based on a specific methodology. It is not a direct measure of their actual earnings or global fan base. For example, the projected earnings of tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, who tops the list, are reported at $30 million in 2026, indicating the scale of endorsement money for top athletes. However, the list does not state the earnings of Gill, Messi, or Ronaldo. Therefore, the purpose of the list is not to assess earnings but to measure brand value and growth potential. The performance of Indian athletes on this list is notable. Apart from Shubman Gill, a total of five Indian athletes are in the top 50. This reflects the depth of India's commercial cricket ecosystem. Even retired legends like MS Dhoni (83rd) and Virat Kohli (85th), as well as Rohit Sharma (90th), remain in the top 100. This shows that Indian athletes' brands are long-lasting. But Gill's 13th place and these legends being in the 83-90 range make it clear that this list gives more weight to "Momentum," allowing new stars to overtake old legends. Another key aspect of this list is that it does not measure performance in any sport. It is purely about the commercial side. Therefore, no assessment of a player's cricketing skill or achievements can be made from this list. There is no mention of Shubman Gill's batting average, strike rate, or other statistics in this report. It is just a commercial ranking. Hence, saying Gill is "better" than Messi or Ronaldo would be wrong. They are athletes from different sports, and their comparison can only be made in terms of commercial marketability, and that too under a specific methodology. This news has also sparked an important debate - does the commercial popularity of Indian athletes mean they are more famous globally? The answer is no. Due to India's huge population and cricket frenzy, players here naturally get more followers and viewership. But in terms of global recognition, Messi and Ronaldo have no match. They are among the most famous athletes in the world, with reach across every continent. Gill's recognition is mainly limited to the Indian subcontinent and cricket-loving countries. Therefore, market size must be considered when making this comparison. Another aspect of this ranking is that it gives 40 per cent weight to "Momentum," making it volatile. If a player's growth rate slows, their position could fall, even if their absolute popularity has not declined. Therefore, Gill's 13th place is a snapshot that may change in the coming times. It is not a long-term position. Furthermore, the list does not provide individual point totals for each athlete, so we do not know the exact gap between Gill, Ronaldo, and Messi. This may be an editorial/estimative ranking and should be taken as a directional signal, not a precise measurement. Sportspro's list is an important document in itself because it reflects the direction of the commercial sports economy. It recognises the growing strength of Indian cricket. But at the same time, it must be remembered that it is not a benchmark for sporting performance. Shubman Gill is a talented cricketer with a bright future, but portraying him as commercially ahead of Messi or Ronaldo is a misleading headline. The original report itself clarifies that "popularity and commercial appeal may not be the same thing." Therefore, this news should be understood in that context. In conclusion, Shubman Gill's 13th place symbolises the commercial dominance of Indian cricket, but it is not direct proof of his sporting ability or global fame. It is a ranking that prioritises "Momentum," and therefore it should be read with caution.