Angel Reese GOES NUTS After Caitlin Clark Named MOST MARKETABLE WNBA Athlete AHEAD of MESSI!

Lionel Messi usurped by Caitlin Clark despite Inter Miami star’s $846m advantage

Lionel Messi usurped by Caitlin Clark despite Inter Miami star’s $846m advantage

W NBA star Caitlin Clark has ranked ahead of Lionel Messi on a prestigious sports marketing list – despite a staggering gulf in their net worths.
The annual list of the world’s 50 most marketable athletes is a distinguished ranking of the finest athletes on the planet, where stars are logged in terms of their market merit. However, despite her relatively new arrival on the scene, Clark has already eclipsed some of the world’s biggest sporting names, including Inter Miami’s Messi.
Her achievement is even more astonishing given the gigantic pay disparity that exists between Clark and Messi, as well as some of the other sporting titans she heads up on the index. Not only does Clark trump the former Barcelona forward, but her fourth place also sees her above soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo, F1 legend Lewis Hamilton and Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry.
The list is based on three factors – brand strength, total addressable market, and economics – with athletes then given a score out of 100 to reflect their overall marketability. In terms of market worth, Clark has a 90.2 rating while Messi comes in just under at 89.67 – a major indication of just how powerful Clark is becoming in such a short space of time.

Explaining the ranking, SportsPro says: “We have blended extensive data analysis, advanced social media monitoring, economic valuations, expert and consumer insights to bring you this definitive list.

“Once again sophisticated qualitative research was integrated with quantitative marketability measurements, while comprehensive mathematical and statistical formulas from multiple data sources were then applied to determine the final rankings according to each athlete’s Total Marketability Score.”

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever runs the court against the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on September 15, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. © (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Despite Clark’s meteoric rise she is still falling short in earnings. The 22-year-old’s net worth stands at $3.8million (£2.9m) – some $846m (£652m) behind Messi’s.
While that still sounds like a very healthy bank balance, for an example of her financial power compared to some of the other stars on the list, the Indiana Fever sensation made $76,535 (£59,050) for her first professional season, while the four-year rookie contract she signed in April is worth $338,000 (£260,782). This is just over half of what Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly earns daily.
According to Spotrac, Clark’s deal with Indiana will increase in 2027, her fourth year of the contract, evening out at $97,582 (£75,288). There are also additional earning incentives like the WNBA Rookie of the Year, a $5,150 (£3,973) bonus, and selection in the All-Star game, an additional $2,575 (£1,986), according to USA Today.
Clark currently has 11 deals with major brands, including Buick, Nike, Gatorade, and State Farm, per On3. She could also make hundreds of thousands of dollars due to a league marketing agreement, but that is not a guarantee, according to ESPN.
On March 27 of this year, hip-hop icon Ice Cube confirmed that his Big3 League, a three-on-three basketball tournament, had extended an offer to Clark after it was reported by TMZ. It was a move that could have bolstered her net worth, however she turned down the offer.
Clark is no doubt on her way to the financial big leagues but how does she really compare to the man she’s topping on the SportsPro list, Lionel Messi?

Messi is one of the world’s highest paid athletes © Getty Images

Celebritynetworth.com lists the net worth of the World Cup winner at a staggering $850million (£654m). According to Forbes, Messi is the second highest-earning football player of the year, with an estimated annual income of $135m (£103m).
The most recent MLS salary data discloses that Messi earns a base salary of $12m (£9.24m) but also receives $20.4m (£15.7m) in compensation from his club, Inter Miami. His whole financial package surpasses the payrolls of 22 other MLS franchises, and that’s not even including performance-related bonuses.
A contract stipulation also entitles Messi to a share of the league’s Apple TV deal, which is believed to be worth approximately $50m (£38.49m). Forbes also states that Messi has scooped $75m (£57m) in 2024 from sponsorships alone, while he has a lifetime deal with Adidas and another lucrative contract with Konami.

Simone Biles of Team United States poses with her Paris 2024 Olympic medals following the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor Exercise Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. © (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
While only beaten by Simone Biles, who heads up the whole directory, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who comes in second and NBA all-timer LeBron James, who completes the top three, Clark’s rapid rise has seen her rank above many sporting greats and legends.
Clark may be lagging behind many in terms of money banked, but the Fever star boasts incredible power right now, which has elevated her above names such as Novak Djokovic, Kevin Durant, Max Verstappen, and Patrick Mahomes on the list. The WNBA star’s time spent sitting outside of the world’s best-paid athletes will surely come to an end soon.