This year, Google’s Year in Searched Athletes reveals sports were the talk of the globe. Major events like Copa America, the UEFA European Championship, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup dominated the top search spots. The Olympics even managed to snag the third spot in the top news searches!
Several big-name athletes also made waves in the top 10 most searched individuals. Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, boxing legend Mike Tyson, Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal, and US gymnast Simone Biles all made the list.
Two Indian athletes, Hardik Pandya and Shashank Singh, joined the ranks as the world’s top 10 most searched athletes. Pandya, who took over as Mumbai Indians’ captain during IPL 2024, was a hot topic after Rohit Sharma handed him the reins. He also played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup victory. Shashank had a stellar IPL season with Punjab Kings, scoring 354 runs in 14 matches.
Surprisingly, big names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t make the top 10.
Khelif, who won welterweight gold at the Paris Olympics, topped the list as the most searched athlete, despite ongoing questions about her gender. Tyson followed closely, securing the second spot. The 58-year-old boxing icon made a comeback in November, fighting YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a highly-publicized match that streamed live on Netflix.
Barcelona’s rising star, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, grabbed the third spot. Yamal played a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory in Germany.
Jake Paul is in the top five most-searched athletes
Gymnast Simone Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, followed in search rankings after adding three more golds in Paris. Jake Paul rounded out the top five most searched athletes.
The top teams’ list was dominated by American clubs, with Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise New York Yankees snagging the top spot, followed by Los Angeles Dodgers (LA Dodgers) and Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami, boasting none other than Lionel Messi.
The only European football team in the top 10 was Bayer Leverkusen, who went the entire Bundesliga season unbeaten and clinched the title. Manager Xabi Alonso’s side went an impressive 51 straight games without a loss in all competitions during the 2023-24 season.
Here is the list of the 10 most searched athletes in 2024
- Imane Khelif
- Mike Tyson
- Lamine Yamal
- Simone Biles
- Jake Paul
- Nico Williams
- Hardik Pandya
- Scottie Scheffler
- Shashank Singh
- Rodri