Anderson Silva makes world’s most marketable athletes list
#40 Anderson Silva – Brazilian, 35, MMA (-) In 2006, just two fights into his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career,…
#40
Anderson Silva – Brazilian, 35, MMA (-)
In 2006, just two fights into his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career, Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva was crowned the UFC’s middleweight champion. Successfully defending his title 11 times since, with a string of highlight reel knockouts, The Spider is the longest running champion in UFC history and arguably the best mixed martial artist (MMA) of all-time.
Having signed a long-term representation contract with high-profile soccer legend Ronaldo’s sports marketing agency 9ine in February 2011, Silva’s status in his native Brazil skyrocketed following a highly publicised win in theatrical style over celebrity fighter and fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.
Now, with the UFC’s aggressive expansion plans focusing on a return to Rio de Janeiro in August, Silva breaks into the rankings as a value-for-money athlete with a golden opportunity to cement his position as a home-grown hero in an enormous market, and a global superstar in a sport that is rapidly becoming one of the industry’s hottest new properties with broadcasters and sponsors alike.
1. Usain Bolt
2. LeBron James
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. Lionel Messi
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Carmelo Anthony
7. Sebastian Vettel
8. Michael Phelps
9. Caroline Wozniacki
10. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
11. Yao Ming
12. Jessica Ennis
13. Kobe Bryant
14. Shaun White
15. Dwyane Wade
16. Rafael Nadal
17. Neymar
18. Tom Brady
19. Liu Xiang
20. Manny Pacquiao
21. Rory McIlroy
22. Maria Sharapova
23. Alex Ovechkin
24. Fernando Alonso
25. Albert Pujols
26. Ryo Ishikawa
27. Sidney Crosby
28. Wayne Rooney
29. Tyson Gay
30. Kevin Durant
31. Joe Mauer
32. Andy Murray
33. Lin Dan
34. Brian Wilson
35. Mark Cavendish
36. Travis Pastrana
37. Mark Sanchez
38. Danica Patrick
39. Valentino Rossi
40. Anderson Silva
41. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
42. Lindsey Vonn
43. Dan Carter
44. Tim Tebow
45. Sam Bradford
46. Yu Darvish
47. Mesut Ozil
48. Deron Williams
49. Yuvraj Singh
50. Samuel Eto’o