Ranked! Cristiano Ronaldo Leads the Chart of Most Googled Footballers in 2023

• Footballers are among a pantheon of the biggest celebrities across the globe these days
• Stars from Europe and the Middle East are some of the most Googled people of year 2023
• Sports Brief takes a look at the top 10 most searched footballers on Google in the world

Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged as the most Googled footballer in 2023, according to a recent study.

The 38-year-old's popularity among enthusiasts of the sport continues to grow in leaps and bounds despite switching from the glitz and glam of European football to unchartered waters in the Gulf region.

According to data collected by footgoal, Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, is the most searched-for footballer in 2023.

Aside from the Portuguese veteran, who are football fans searching for on Google? Sports Brief seeks to answer this question:

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10. Luis Suarez (1.7 million monthly searches)

The former Liverpool, FC Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid striker is undoubtedly one of the best goal poachers of his generation.

Despite moving back to South America as he winds down his glittering career, Suarez remains one of the most relevant football icons in the world right now.

He had a stellar goal-scoring record for FC Barcelona, netting 198 goals in just 283 appearances for the club.

9. Sadio Mane (1.8 million monthly searches)

Perhaps the most affable name on the list is Senegal and Bayern Munich forward, Sadio Mane.

The former Liverpool winger's popularity peaked after helping his country win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.

Mane remains extremely popular among football fans despite his season being blighted by injuries.

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8. Gerard Pique (1.9 million monthly searches)

Gerard Pique has a knack for making headlines, from announcing his retirement from football to breaking up with Colombian musician, Shakira.

The 2010 World Cup winner established a Spanish seven-a-side football league in 2022 which is extremely popular among football followers.

7. Paulo Dybala (2.2 million monthly searches)

Dybala might not have played a chunk of Argentina's games en route to winning the World Cup, but his timely clearance literally denied Kylian Mbappe from single-handedly winning France a third World Cup.

He is currently spearheading AS Roma's chase for Champions League football next season after ending his seven trophy-laden years with Juventus.

6. Karim Benzema (2.4 million monthly searches)

These days, Karim Benzema may have carved a niche for himself as a 'bad boy' considering his ongoing feud with France manager, Didier Deschamps and the spat at the 2022 FIFA The Best Awards.

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Nonetheless, his prowess on the pitch is undoubted. He is the reigning Ballon d'Or holder and is Real Madrid's second-all-time top scorer.

5. Robert Lewandowski (3.2 million monthly searches)

After eight outstanding years at Bayern Munich, Lewandowski made the move to FC Barcelona and could add the Spanish La Liga to his collection of trophies.

He is proving his worth at Camp Nou this campaign, scoring 25 goals in 32 appearances to average a goal every 108 minutes, according to Transfermarkt.

4. Kylian Mbappe (8.5 million monthly searches)

Identified as the heir apparent to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's throne, Mbappe is unquestionably the best player in the world right now.

He recently became PSG's all-time top scorer, bypassing Edinson Cavani to reach the hallmark at the tender age of 24.

Mbappe still has some ways to go until he becomes the most Googled footballer on the planet, but at his rate, it is only going to be a case of when and not how.

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3. Neymar (9.2 million monthly searches)

Another PSG icon on the list - Neymar. The Brazilian began the 2022-23 campaign on a blistering note but has struggled to replicate his early season form after the World Cup.

Injuries have also not been fair to him after his recent ankle injury ruled him out of the season.

Regardless, the 31-year-old Brazilian magician is still as popular today as ever in Google’s eyes.

2. Lionel Messi (13.2 million monthly searches)

The genius number 10, who is touted as the greatest footballer to have ever graced the sport, is unsurprisingly eminent among fans.

At the age of 35, Messi continues to effortlessly cause records to tumble in his wake.

He recently chalked 300 club career assists, a feat no player in the history of the sport comes close to.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (17.4 million monthly searches)

Cristiano Ronaldo is indefatigable when it comes to online influence. Aside from being the most Googled footballer, the Al-Nassr captain is also the most followed sportsman on social media.

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He has already taken the Saudi Pro League like duck to water and scooped the Player of the Month for February after scoring eight goals in four matches.

Eminem picks Ronaldo as GOAT

Sports Brief also reported on multiple award-winning American rapper, Marshall Bruce Mathers III, wading into the football GOAT debate.

Touted as one of the greatest rappers of all-time, Eminem picked between Ronaldo and Messi to announce who he believes is the greatest.

The Love the Way You Lie hitmaker settled the debate with an interesting analogy, which attracted a lot of negative comments from fans.