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Gen Z’s Top 10 Favorite Athletes in the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, and Italy

European Gen Z’s favorite athletes are highly influenced by their local sports culture 

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team
KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Most of Gen Z’s favorite athletes are football players, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the top
  • European Gen Z mostly name athletes from their home country as their favorite
  • But they also name iconic American athletes as their favorites, like Simone Biles and LeBron James
Sports are a massive part of pop culture for young people in Europe; 75% consider themselves sports fans, and they’re not just engaging through the games alone. Data from YPulse’s WE Sports and Athletes report shows that 45% of European 13-24-year-olds watch sports highlights on social media, and it’s also the top place where they look up sports news, standings and scores. And between following leagues and teams across platforms, they’re also connecting with their favorite athletes on socials. Following athletes’ personal content on social gives young fans the feeling of having a relationship with them more personally, and that...

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