Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi arrives at number nine on our list as the Argentine forward who captains Inter Miami and spent twenty‑one years steering the national team before retiring from international duty in 2026. His trophy cabinet — eight Ballons d’Or, six European Golden Shoes, eight FIFA world‑player honours, two Laureus World Sportsman of the Year awards and the IFFHS All Time Men’s World Best Player title — gives the media a résumé that reads like a greatest‑hits compilation, and the steady hum of 17 K daily Wikipedia page views shows the curiosity hasn’t faded. Forbes has kept him in its orbit with a straight‑up profile and a piece linking his earning power to Cristiano Ronaldo’s, while The New York Times wonders whether he is about to log 16,000 miles in seven days for two matches and two awards ceremonies, and notes he has just set a trading‑card sales record that leapfrogs Shohei Ohtani and LeBron James. ESPN marks his Argentina farewell with a goal and assists, and MARCA USA reveals how a modest club once put his name forward for a historic prize. Meanwhile, CNN en Español, ESPN and The New York Times all trace the “next Messi” narrative through Nico Paz, the young Spaniard who chose Argentina, turned down Real Madrid and is now dazzling in Europe. The combination of an unrivalled individual haul, a recent international exit staged with a goal and an assist, and a commercial footprint that now includes record‑breaking card sales keeps Messi firmly planted in the top ten. Outlets from Forbes to The New York Times treat him as both a living benchmark for emerging talents like Paz and a still‑active draw who can dominate headlines with travel logistics or memorabilia numbers alike. That dual gravity — sporting legend and market force — is exactly what holds him at number nine.

Lionel Messi is in place 9 on our list trending athletes in the world. Hot means named by trusted media and looked up most, not a judgement of anyone.