Footballers are among a pantheon of the biggest celebrities across the globe these days, but just who are the most searched footy stars in 2023?
Plenty of the high-profile stars in the game today have attracted a mainstream audience; you simply need to look at the most followed people on social media handles like Instagram or Facebook to tell you that.
Players from PSG, the Saudi Pro League, Real Madrid, and Barcelona have emerged as the most sought-after personalities on Google searches in 2023. There's been a change of guard lately, but Google trends are showing that established stars still matter most.
If you're anything crazy about football stars like us, you might have wondered which players occupy football fans’ search engines. If yes, then you are in the right place to find it out. Here at GOAL, we present you with the list of the top 10 searched footballers on Google.
GettyLionel Messi | Inter Miami | 18.4 million average monthly searches
Whether you regard him as the undisputed GOAT or not, Lionel Messi is still one of the greatest players to have graced the football pitch in the history of the game. It's a status he has earned by virtue of his incredible achievements, which he continues to stack up even at the age of 36.
Messi fired Argentina to World Cup glory in December 2022, winning the Golden Ball for his exploits in the tournament. He then shocked the sporting world by joining David Beckham's Inter Miami in the MLS after leaving Paris Saint-German, and mesmerised the States with his gifted talents, leading the Herons' to their first-ever silverware in the form of the inaugural Leagues Cup competition.
The Argentine superstar also clinched the 2023 Men's Ballon d'Or award to take his overall count to a record-extending eighth, and being the most recognisable face of football, it's fair to assume that he's also one of the most searched sportsmen in 2023.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesCristiano Ronaldo | Al-Nassr | 15.2 million average monthly searches
While most footballers are winding down in their late thirties, CR7 still seems hungrier than ever. Arguably the most popular sporting personality on the planet, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was Googled close to 200 million times in 2023. It has been a momentous year for the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo as he turned around his fortunes at Al-Nassr, having departed Manchester United under something of a cloud in January 2023.
The Portuguese legend's move to the Saudi Pro League does appear to have rejuvenated him and has already won his first trophy in the Middle-East after guiding Al-Nassr to a remarkable Arab Club Champions triumph. He currently leads the Saudi top-flight goalscoring standings as things stand, while he finished Euro 2024 qualifying as the competition's leading goal marksman.
His record of 53 goals in 58 appearances for both club and country during the calendar year puts him above European heavyweights like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane for the record of most goals in 2023.
Getty ImagesKylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain | 12.5 million average monthly searches
Kylian Mbappe has well-and-truly emerged as one of the brightest stars in the football galaxy over the last half a decade or so. The Frenchman has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his electrifying pace and skills, combined with exceptional goal-scoring potency on the pitch.
As one of the most prolific and dynamic forwards in the game, the Frenchman's popularity has transcended beyond the realm of football and he has truly become a global icon, as evident from the Google search volume of his name, with the speculation over his future making headline news on a constant basis.
Regarded as one of the best players of the 21st century, Mbappe helped Paris Saint-Germain retain the Ligue 1 title this year and also impressed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the end of last year by winning the Golden Boot and scoring a hat trick in the final against eventual winners Argentina. With Lionel Messi and Neymar now out of the fray at PSG, Mbappe is very much the main man in the French capital.
GettyErling Haaland | Manchester City | 11.7 million monthly searches
Norwegian goal-machine Erling Haaland had an incredible 2023 as he won the Ballon d'Or Gerd Muller Trophy, which recognised him as the best striker last season. He broke the record for the most goals in a single Premier League season with 36 in only 35 appearances.
Powered by Haaland's insatiable hunger for goals, Man City completed a historic treble as the Citizens lifted the FA Cup, Premier League, and a first-ever Champions League, which they had long craved for, but seemed incapable of getting over the line until the arrival of Haaland, who also finished top scorer in Europe's elite competition.
It is hard to argue the result of the 23-year-old scooping the prize, although he was beaten to the prestigious Ballon d'Or honour by Messi in November.
