In a significant moment for Indian cricket, Shubman Gill has emerged as the country's highest-ranked cricketer in the 2026 edition of the world's 50 Most Marketable Athletes list. The young Indian captain has claimed the 13th position, moving ahead of some of the biggest names in international sport, including Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who occupies 14th place.

The rankings have attracted considerable attention, particularly because of the absence of India's established cricketing superstars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni from the top 50. While Gill's rise highlights his growing international appeal and commercial potential, the rankings also raise interesting questions about how the marketability of professional athletes is measured.

Published as part of the annual SportsPro rankings, the 2026 list recognises athletes who have built powerful personal brands, attracted commercial opportunities and demonstrated the potential to expand their influence beyond their respective sports.

Shubman Gill Claims 13th Spot, Finishes Ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo

Shubman Gill's 13th-place finish is undoubtedly one of the biggest talking points of this year's rankings. The Indian batter has surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most recognisable and commercially successful footballers in the world.

Ronaldo, who remains the most-followed athlete on Instagram, has been placed 14th, just one position below Gill. Despite his enormous global fan following, established commercial partnerships and decades of success at the highest level, the Portuguese superstar could not secure a higher position in the 2026 rankings.

Lionel Messi, another global sporting icon, has also finished behind Gill, occupying the 27th position.

Gill's achievement is particularly noteworthy considering his relatively young career compared with the established sporting legends around him. As India's current Test and ODI captain, he is increasingly being viewed as one of the leading faces of the next generation of international cricket.

His growing profile, leadership responsibilities and popularity among cricket followers have strengthened his position as a commercially attractive sporting personality.

The 13th-place finish also makes Gill the highest-ranked cricketer in the 2026 list, underlining India's growing presence in the global sports marketing landscape.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni Miss Top 50

While Gill's rise has generated excitement, the rankings have delivered a surprising outcome for three of India's most celebrated cricketers.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni have all failed to secure a place among the top 50 most marketable athletes in 2026.

Among the three, former India captain MS Dhoni is the highest-ranked, occupying the 83rd position. Kohli follows closely at 85th, while Rohit Sharma has been placed 90th.

The development is particularly interesting in Kohli's case. For years, the star batter has been among the most recognisable sporting personalities worldwide, enjoying an enormous social media following and an impressive portfolio of brand endorsements.

His previous achievements in the rankings further highlight the scale of this year's change. In 2014, Kohli was the only Indian athlete to feature on the list, securing an impressive second position behind Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton. He subsequently occupied third place in 2016.

Both Kohli and Rohit were also among the top 50 in the previous edition. Their drop in the latest rankings represents a notable shift in their marketability positions.

However, their absence from the top 50 should not automatically be interpreted as a decline in their overall popularity, commercial value or influence among Indian cricket fans. The rankings assess several specific marketability indicators rather than simply measuring sporting achievements or social media popularity.

Aryna Sabalenka Tops the 2026 Most Marketable Athletes List

While Indian cricket has dominated headlines because of Gill's achievement, the overall rankings have also produced a historic result.

Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has claimed the top position, becoming the fourth woman and the third tennis player to lead the rankings since their introduction in 2010.

Her achievement is particularly significant because it highlights the increasing commercial influence of women athletes across international sport.

American-born Chinese freestyle skiing champion Eileen Gu has secured second place, while Greek basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo occupies the third position.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is ranked fourth, making him the only footballer to feature in the top 10. Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz completes the top five.

The top 10 is therefore dominated by athletes from different sporting disciplines, demonstrating that commercial appeal is no longer restricted to globally popular sports such as football and basketball.

Five Indian Cricketers Feature in the Top 50

Despite the absence of Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni from the top 50, Indian cricket has maintained a notable presence in the 2026 rankings.

Five Indian cricketers have secured places among the world's 50 most marketable athletes.

Following Gill, India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is ranked 36th. Women's cricket also has a strong representation, with Jemimah Rodrigues occupying 31st place and Smriti Mandhana securing the 37th position.

India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah completes the Indian cricket contingent at 39th.

The inclusion of Rodrigues and Mandhana is particularly encouraging following India's Women's ODI World Cup triumph. Their positions reflect the growing commercial opportunities and international recognition available to women's cricket stars.

Interestingly, the five Indian cricketers represent different strengths within the sport. Gill leads the group in overall momentum, while Mandhana records the strongest Brand Equity score among the five.

Their collective presence also signals the expanding influence of Indian cricket beyond its traditional male superstars.

How Are the Most Marketable Athletes Ranked?

One of the most important aspects of the 2026 rankings is the methodology used to evaluate an athlete's commercial appeal.

Unlike conventional sporting rankings, which primarily focus on performances, statistics, titles and individual achievements, the Most Marketable Athletes list evaluates an athlete's overall brand potential.

The 2026 edition uses the NorthStar Marketability Score, which evaluates athletes across three major categories.

1. Brand Equity – 45 Points

Brand Equity measures the strength, recognition and commercial value of an athlete's personal brand. It considers the athlete's existing reputation, audience reach and ability to attract public and commercial interest.

2. Momentum – 40 Points

Momentum examines how quickly an athlete's popularity and marketability are growing. It considers factors that indicate whether the athlete's influence is expanding and whether their brand is gaining traction.

3. Commercial Trajectory – 15 Points

Commercial Trajectory evaluates an athlete's future business potential, including opportunities for new brand partnerships, sponsorships and commercial growth.

The assessment is based on 27 defined marketability drivers, supported by hundreds of data points per athlete and more than 3,000 brand partnership records.

For the 2026 edition, an initial pool of 1,202 athletes across 70 sports was considered. This was narrowed down to 247 athletes for a detailed evaluation before the final rankings were determined.

The data collection covered the period between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

This methodology explains why an athlete with an enormous existing fan following does not necessarily rank higher than someone whose commercial momentum and future growth prospects are stronger.

Cricket Strengthens Its Position in Global Sports Marketing

Another interesting development in the 2026 rankings is the growing representation of cricket.

Five cricketers have secured places in the top 50 this year, compared with just two in the previous edition.

Basketball leads the sporting categories with 13 representatives, followed by football with 11 and tennis with eight. Cricket's increased representation highlights the sport's expanding commercial reach and the growing international recognition of its leading players.

The rankings also feature 16 women athletes, compared with 20 in 2025 and 22 in 2024. Despite the decline in numbers, women occupy the top two positions, with Sabalenka and Gu leading the overall standings.

Athletes from 22 countries have made the top 50, compared with 17 in the previous year. The United States leads with 16 representatives, while India ranks second.

What Gill's Achievement Means for Indian Cricket

Shubman Gill's position ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is more than just an eye-catching ranking. It represents an important development in the commercial evolution of Indian cricket.

As a young captain with considerable responsibilities in international cricket, Gill has an opportunity to build a personal brand that extends well beyond his performances on the field.

His position also reflects the increasing importance of emerging sporting personalities in an industry where commercial partnerships, audience engagement and long-term growth potential play a crucial role.

At the same time, the absence of Kohli, Rohit and Dhoni from the top 50 demonstrates how competitive and dynamic the global sports marketing environment has become.

Their achievements and popularity remain firmly established, but the latest rankings suggest that the next generation of athletes is gaining ground in the commercial arena.

For Indian cricket, the biggest takeaway is clear: Shubman Gill is rapidly emerging as one of the sport's most marketable international faces. Whether he can maintain this momentum and climb even higher in the coming years will be worth watching.

For now, finishing ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the 2026 Most Marketable Athletes rankings is a remarkable milestone for the Indian captain.

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