There are millions of athletes all over the world contending at the highest level of their respective sports. They have earned massive and devoted fan bases: either for themselves, if they’re in solo sports such as boxing, or for the team that they represent.

But people tend to be drawn to those top-end talents who prove to be among the very best of their sport. These top talents demand that fans back them on betting sites as they’re too good to go against.

There is, however, a big difference between being very talented and becoming a global superstar. Some of the most successful and talented sportspeople in the world have been unable to reach the upper echelon of superstardom.

So, we’re here to uncover what it takes to reach that peak.

Success In A Popular AND Global Sport:

Talent doesn’t necessarily lead to success. As seen many times in the major American sports leagues, great players can be eternally stuck to poor teams.

Due to the way that the draft system works, the worst teams get the perceived best players each year. If the teams don’t go on to build a team around those top talents, the team won’t win anything.

The limited number of trophies in the American major leagues also limits how many sportspeople can find success each year.

In the NHL, Marcel Dionne and Mats Sundin never won the Stanley Cup. In the NFL, Dan Marino and Barry Sanders never won the Super Bowl.

In the MLB, Ted Williams and Ken Griffey Jr never won the World Series. In the NBA, Reggie Miller and Karl Malone never won the NBA Championship.

The first step towards becoming a global sporting superstar is to play in a sport watched or known globally. Football has immense global appeal.

While the sport of American football is secluded, its aggressive advertising and hyping make its stars relevant around the world. After displaying talent, the sportsperson must then win trophies to prove their ability on the biggest occasions.

It is with solo sportspeople that accolades become more important as it all down to their own work. In boxing, Manny Pacquiao has been able to become a global superstar through his skill and ability to secure the record as the eight-division world champion.

 

Ability To Do The Unexpected:

Sport is an entertainment medium. People turn up to watch teams and sportspeople participate because it brings them excitement, joy, and anger.

For a participant to ascend from sportsperson to global superstar, they have to possess a great deal of talent and an aura of unpredictability.

Having previously shown their flair for being unpredictable, fans then expect them to do something unpredictable and back them in the sports betting to do so. That’s what makes them exciting and why people follow them in each match and beyond.

Overall, injuries and a poor team have hindered Odell Beckham Jr in the NFL. However, ‘The Catch’ and numerous other explosions of brilliance out of the blue have marked him as a global superstar capable of the seemingly impossible.

Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, has been regarded as the best player in the world for a long time, but it was his amazing free kick against Portsmouth in 2008 marked him as a global superstar.

Charismatic And Ability To Connect With People:

Charisma is a major part of any person becoming a global superstar, regardless of their profession. To hit the celebrity status, a sportsperson must be talkative when called upon, and say the right things.

It used to be that interviews in magazines and on television were the only ways for most fans to experience the charisma of sports stars. Nowadays, social media allows fans to follow sports stars in everything that they do, getting hooked on their charisma even further.

Cristiano Ronaldo is by far the most-followed athlete on Instagram, with over 147 million followers. Neymar is close behind, at over 106 million. Lionel Messi trails in third, with over 102 million followers.

Charisma can take a sportsperson to global superstardom, as shown by David Beckham. The retired footballer has the fourth-most followers of any athlete, with 52.21 million on Instagram.

 

It Helps To Be Photogenic...

There’s an expectation for sportspeople to be fit, due to their profession. But there’s no doubt that also being a beautiful human being helps them to become even more popular if they’re talented in their sport.

Success, skill, and money will help, but most sportspeople who become global superstars are good looking.

They’re who people want to be, and who others want to be with. It’s a reason why many people will tune in to live games, lean towards backing them in live betting, and follow them on social media.

Appeal To Specific Fan Bases:

Ascending a sport to become a global superstar requires the initial backing of the sportsperson’s original fans. Those who follow a sport have certain expectations for the conduct of its professionals, for the most part.

It is very sport dependent. In the NFL, fans tend to be drawn to the enigmatic, big, loud personalities. Those with elaborate touchdown celebrations and show aggression tend to catch the attention.

In ice hockey, despite the physicality and allowance of fighting in the sport, fans greatly converge on humble and clear-thinking stars.

When it comes down to the big games, when temperatures are high, fans will turn to teams with the calm and intelligent stars in the ice hockey betting.

Boxing is in a mixed phase in this sense. As more people are starting to follow the sport and expecting violence and brash personalities, those types of stars are becoming popular again.

For the most part, long-term and knowledgeable fans of the sport tend to drift towards less-outspoken talents like Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor, as well as those who show respect in press conferences.

The likes of Deontay Wilder and Jarrell Miller have fans that like their arrogant personas and do get a look in the boxing betting markets. However, the more popular stars of modern boxing are those who prove their skill and are respectful.

 

Appeal To Major Brands:

Having earned a massive fan base within a sport, sportspeople can take the next step by brand association. Brands look to sponsor much-loved and recognisable sports stars to promote their products.

In turn, by being in advertising, the sportspeople become even more famous as more people see and recognise them, associating them with top brands.

Whenever looking at the goalscorer markets of the football betting, your mind wanders to the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar. All three are among the top five highest-paid athletes in the world.

Messi pulls in £20.5 million in endorsements. Ronaldo earns £35.7 million in endorsements. Neymar earns £13 million in endorsements.

For a sports star to transcend the sport and become a global superstar, they need more than talent. They need success, flair, charisma, the right personality to appeal to their core fan base, and further recognisability through sponsorship.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Christof Stache / AP Photo

 

While some sports appear to have everlasting popularity, authorities are continually seeking new ways to bring the spectacle to a wider audience.

Money is frequently the main source of motivation. If clubs generate more income overseas, there is more money to invest in improving fortunes domestically. If sports can boast a bigger reach, bigger television and sponsorship deals will follow.

Whether by adjusting old rules or taking events to different places, some of the world's most popular sports have sought ways to break new ground.

 

A Game Abroad:

For many sports, the most logical method to generate support and exposure is taking a domestic fixture overseas.

While teams of all sports may go on expansive pre-season tours or play friendly games in neutral locations, competitive fixtures are far more effective in retaining the high stakes that make sport so interesting.

The NFL has recognised this to great effect, with several league games played at Wembley in London throughout the past decade.

Research from the NFL in 2018 revealed that nearly four million Britons identified as passionate fans of the sport, double the figure of six years previously.

In 2018, over 80,000 people flocked to each of three NFL matches at Wembley, with the three-week run rumoured to be laying the foundations for a London-based franchise to enter the league in the next few years.

Watching the NFL in person has created American football fans in the UK who may have otherwise never realised their interest in the sport, which is why betting sites give British punters more options than ever on NFL matches.

The Premier League once mooted the possibility of hosting matches overseas, adding an extra fixture for all 20 sides to create a 39-game season. Games would have been played across several continents, but fans and clubs rebelled at the logistical nightmare of it all.

This argument will likely resurface in the next few years. If the NFL can successfully integrate a London-based side as the first move in global expansion, the Premier League may take similar steps to cash in on worldwide demand.

NOT Born In The USA:

Rugby and cricket are both dominated by a relatively small pool of nations, which has made the expansion into new territories a difficult process. The list of nations represented at the 2019 Cricket World Cup reveals the comparatively narrow appeal of the sport.

One European (hosts England), one African (South Africa) and one North American side (Windies) shown the limitations in cricket’s expansion outside of Asia and Oceania.

Conversely, rugby has found it difficult to tackle a lack of support in Asia. The 2019 Rugby World Cup will be hosted by Japan, which could prove crucial in enthusing a new generation of Asians.

However, Japan are Asia’s sole representative at the World Cup. Eight Rugby World Cups have only produced five different finalists. This is why rugby has largely been unable to break new ground, notably in the United States.

Rugby’s similarity with American football has diminished the appetite for a new contact sport, while the USA national team have won just three out of 22 World Cup matches in their history.

However, rugby in the US is beginning to push back against these factors. The return of rugby to the Summer Olympics calendar in 2016 boosted global audiences, while rugby is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the US.

Hosting the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens did the sport’s popularity no harm.

Cricket could do with a similar boost, with the sport overshadowed by baseball in the US. The International Cricket Council (ICC) have stated their ambition to make cricket the world’s most popular sport.

For that to come remotely close to happening, the ICC will need to establish an audience in the US because of the American population size and financial strength.

Expat communities in the US will be vital in introducing cricket to more Americans, but governing bodies will need to be more proactive if they want to end perceptions of cricket as an archaic sport competed by few nations.

For example, the UK has accommodated five out of 12 Cricket World Cups. Cricket will need to travel further afield if it is to increase its audience.

A Game For The Next Generation:

Amid suggestions from some quarters that Grand Slam tennis matches were too long for modern audiences, the ATP put a new spin on the Next Generation ATP Finals.

The continued appetite for Grand Slam tennis and criticism from Next Gen players suggests these changes may be ineffective in reaching new markets. The Next Gen Finals trialled a series of tennis rules that aimed to add some speed and pizzazz to the game. 

Next Gen players are those on the ATP Tour aged 21 or under. The creation of the Next Gen Finals is partly the result of a need to establish new stars when the likes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic finally stop heading the tennis betting markets.

This combination of Next Gen players with some specific rules has made the Finals a unique viewing experience in the past two years.

As with a Grand Slam, matches are played to best of five sets. However, these sets are won by the first to four games, rather than the traditional six.

The removal of ad-scoring and lets, plus the addition of shot clocks, aimed to make matches a more efficient and exciting affair. Only time will tell if these changes are effective in bringing a new audience to tennis.

The proof will be if Grand Slams adopt any of these rules designed for younger players and fans.

A Tale Of Many Cities:

It is remarkable to think that you could create an acca on a bet calculator featuring six sides owned by the City Football Group, represented across five continents.

Manchester City are the flagship club, with the CFC’s first two acquisitions acting as an extension of City. New York City FC became the 20th side in MLS, while the CFC took the heart out of Melbourne Heart to add their own suffix.

Melbourne City and NYCFC both play in the light blue of their English parent, while the CFC’s financial power has brought the star names.

Melbourne’s captains have included Australian legend Harry Kewell and Brazilian striker Fred, while NYCFC’s first skipper was legendary forward David Villa.

The USA and Australia are both nations that have become more appreciative of football in recent years, with City’s presence in two English-speaking nations easy to develop.

The CFC’s expansion hasn’t stopped there; Japan’s Yokohama Marinos, Uruguay’s Club Atletico Torque and Spain’s Girona have all attracted the investment of the CFC. There are two principal reasons for such vigorous expansion.

Links with clubs across continents gives Manchester City a better chance of unearthing and acquiring the world’s best new talent. Also, local fans of these clubs will be more likely to adopt Manchester City as their Premier League favourite.

No matter how popular a sport or a club gets, there will always be a need to search for fans in unfamiliar places. The sports that evolve are those that will remain relevant, but those which are unable to adapt may find their popularity on the decline.

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Sunday’s Premier League action focuses on the upper echelon of the table. Arsenal visit Leicester as they look to undo a nightmare week, Manchester United aim to do the same as they host Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Manchester City, playing nearly 48 hours after Liverpool, will be looking to return to the summit when they visit Turf Moor.

 

LEICESTER CITY vs ARSENAL

A home loss to Newcastle and a disappointing draw with West Ham have been setbacks for Brendan Rodgers after a great start to his Leicester tenure.

The Foxes are still in with a shout of finishing seventh, despite dropping to 10^th. They are only three points behind Wolves, who face Watford on Saturday afternoon.

Arsenal have hit a rough patch at the worst possible time. Three defeats in four matches have seen the Gunners drop to fifth even with Chelsea faltering.

A loss on Sunday and a Manchester United win at Old Trafford will see them drop to sixth and make them outsiders for a top four berth. Their away form is dire over the last two campaigns, making the 31/20 price look way too short.

The vulnerable Arsenal defence could struggle against Leicester’s pacey attack. Goals are to be expected at the King Power.

TIP: Over 3.5 goals @ 31/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Leicester 3-2 Arsenal (Priced at 19/1 with 888sport)

 

Burnley vs MANCHESTER CITY

Burnley have had an up and down season. A resurgence early in 2019 was ended with a blip that pulled them back into the relegation scrap.

Since then, though, Sean Dyche’s side have picked up 10 points in four matches and are only three points behind 11^th-placed West Ham. Drawing at Chelsea last time out will have given the Clarets confidence, but two 5-0 defeats to Manchester City this season are fresh in the memory.

Turf Moor has not been a happy place for City, who have only won one of their last three trips. Having won 11 straight in the league, however, Pep Guardiola’s side are flying high.

Kevin De Bruyne remains unavailable, and while that’s obviously a concern, it is unlikely to have too much of an impact here. City played Manchester United off the park in midweek and are overwhelming 2/15 favourites to win against Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

Raheem Sterling was named in the PFA Team of the Year this week and continues to produce in the final third. The England international is a price worth considering at 6/1 to score and assist in 888Sport’s Premier League betting.

City know Turf Moor is a tough place to go. Guardiola’s side are rolling right now, though, and should win this comfortably.

TIP: Manchester City to win (-1) @ 4/11

PREDICTED SCORE: Burnley 0-3 Manchester City (Priced at 11/2 with 888sport)

 

MANCHESTER UNITED vs CHELSEA

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s record since taking over as Manchester United on a permanent basis is woeful.

The stuttering form of Arsenal and Chelsea has remarkably kept them in the top four race, but this match is a must-win for Solskjaer, who is already coming under pressure. United have lost four of their last six in the Premier League.

Maurizio Sarri is in a similar situation. Chelsea will be fourth at Sunday lunchtime, but they could be down in sixth if they lose at Old Trafford and Arsenal win against Leicester.

A home draw with Burnley was a missed opportunity for the Blues and did little to convince Chelsea fans that Sarri should be manager next season. Injury to Callum Hudson-Odoi is a major blow, though the experienced Pedro is a capable replacement.

This will be a very competitive, and perhaps hard to watch, match. Chelsea’s away record of late is poor, with Sarri’s side struggling to score on the road. Manchester United have been dysfunctional again. Under 2.5 goals at Evens is probably the best bet.

TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ Evens

PREDICTED SCORE: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Priced at 27/5 with 888sport)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*