Sports have been the most popular recreational activities around the world for ages. People find their interest in sports for various reasons and benefits it provides to them. Keeping the body healthy, enhancing the stamina, improving reflexes are some of its benefits. Moreover, the players who excel in different sports are very popular, highly paid and idealised by people all over the world. The top brands often sign sponsorship and endorsement deal with various boards, leagues, teams and players to enhance their brand value. Talking about history, proofs of ancient Olympics have been found in Greece. In contemporary times too, Olympics are one of the most significant events taking place every 4 years. So, let’s have a look at the 10 most popular sports in the world.

1.Football

Also known as ‘Soccer’, this sport is immensely popular around the world, especially in Europe, Africa, Asia, America. The most prestigious tournament in football, the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup was watched by a record number of 3 billion fans in 2018. Major football tournaments like UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga are widely followed on various social media platforms. Female football is also celebrated in multiple countries. Top brands such as Coca Cola, Qatar Airways, Pepsi, Nike, Puma and Adidas have signed multi-million dollar deals with FIFA and top football clubs and national teams. Football players are often regarded as one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

2. Tennis    

Tennis is an extremely popular global sport. It is played in different versions namely Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles both in the Men’s and Women’s categories. Europe, America, and Asia are the regions in which most of the players and fans reside. Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic are some present greats of the sport who also feature in both the top paid and most popular sports persons around the world.

3. Basketball

Basketball is widely followed by about 2 billion fans globally. Fédération Internationale de Basketball ( originally known as Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur, hence FIBA) is the governing body. National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most popular professional basketball league in the world. Famous players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James have added to the popularity of the sport. 

4. Cricket    

Another popular sport with substantial global reach, it is followed by about 2.5 billion fans, majorly from countries such as Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand, United Kingdom and India. International Cricket Council in the governing body. About 2.6 billion people watched the 2019 Cricket World Cup. The popularity of Women’s Cricket is also on the rise. Brand endorsements from companies like Nike, Puma have been the source of the majority of the money that the teams and players receive. 

5. Motorsport

Motorsport is a term used to describe the group of competitive sporting events which involve the use of motorised vehicles. Highest governing bodies are FIA (four- or more wheeled), FIM (two-wheeled), UIM (powerboats), FAI (Air racing). Formula One and MotoGP are the most popular championships. Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton are some of the famous drivers.

6. Baseball

Baseball, particularly the Major League Baseball (MLB) has about 500 million fans globally. The leagues and teams of this sport are sponsored by top brands such as Mastercard, Chevrolet. Mookie Betts, Babe Ruth, Mike Trout are some of the famous players of the game. Highest paid baseball players can receive about $38 million yearly.

7. Athletics

It combines many individual sports like Long Jump, High Jump, Javelin Throw, Hammer Throw, Races. Usain Bolt is considered as the fastest man on the earth. Many people play athletics because of the different health benefits. Athletics is popular at the school/college/university level. The Army men also like to play Athletics.

8. Boxing

It is the most popular combat sport prevailing in the world. It is played in two forms- Amateur and Professional. It provides various benefits like Fat burning, Increased muscle tone, Strong bones and ligaments, Increased cardiovascular fitness, Muscular endurance. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather are some of the greatest boxers of all times.

9. Hockey

Hockey is played in two forms- Ice hockey and Field Hockey. It is mostly famous in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia. Globally, about 2 billion people follow hockey. Brands such as Gatorade, Reebok willingly sign sponsorship deals with different Men’s and Women’s hockey teams around the world. The highest-paid players receive about $16 million in salary annually.

10. Golf      

Golf has an estimated world following of 450 Million people, and its main influence is in Western Europe, East Asia, and North America. It is played by use of different clubs to hit a ball, over a determined course, using the fewest possible amount of strokes. Tiger Woods is the most popular as well as the highest paid player.

Sports being such celebrated around the world, so not only the youth, but all the age categories should be encouraged to play sports. People should play in the full spirit of the game, and live it to the fullest. The culture of sports should be preserved, as it acts as a binding force between different nations of the world.