2024 is already upon us, and we can’t wait to see what it has in store when sporting events and athletes are in question! Since we are still at the start of the year, we thought why not bring together a list of the most influential athletes during the past year.
There are plenty of names that can find themselves on this list, all for varying reasons. Some were crowned champions, others would be at the centre of every conversation in their respective sport, while others just wouldn’t stop trending!
We don’t have space for everyone here, but let’s take a look at who we believe marked 2023 for different reasons.
Simone Biles
We start this list with Simone Biles – an American artistic gymnast, who is also the most decorated one in US history!
Just two years ago, she said that the “mental is not there”, so she decided to bow out of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Everyone was concerned about Biles’ well-being, but she returned to the big stage with a bang in 2023!
Her performance at the World Championship in October left everyone stunned and won her sixth championship with ease!
Her triumph silenced the critics who said that she abandoned her team in 2021, and set the stage for the Paris Games in 2024, so we can’t wait to see how she performs there! If you are already eager to start wagering on the Paris Games, we suggest you take a look at our list of the best betting offers and secure a boost to your potential profits!
Virat Kohli
One of the top cricket players in 2023 who deserves mention is India's Virat Kohli. Kohli has been a standout performer in international cricket, renowned for his consistency and remarkable skill. In 2023, he was the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket with an impressive 1934 runs at an average of 66, including 8 centuries and 9 fifties.
He broke several records during the year, notably surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 673 runs from the 2003 World Cup and his record of 49 ODI centuries.
Kohli was honored as the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2023, a testament to his outstanding performance in the 50-over game format.
Coco Gauff
2023 has been a standout year for women’s sports, but arguably no one has had the impact of Coco Gauff! She rose the highest – winning her first championship and becoming the highest-paid female athlete in the world!
She managed to grab the headlines when she won the US Open in September, becoming the first teenager since Serena Williams did that in 1999. Inevitably, the pressure will mount even more, but Gauff looks set to become Serena's successor as tennis' global ambassador!
Aitana Bonmati
Football stars will always have a place when speaking of memorable moments and achievements, so Spanish star Aitana Bonmati deservedly finds herself on this list.
Bonmati played a pivotal role in Spain’s World Cup win and she also helped Barcelona win the UEFA Women’s Champions League for a second time! Therefore, no one should be surprised to see Bonmati winning the Ballon d’Or Feminin – an individual trophy she thoroughly deserved !
Nikola Jokic
Let’s now switch our focus to the men’s side of the athletic world! Nikola Jokic is a star in a league that most values charisma and style, and sometimes, the Serbian seems to dominate it completely by accident!
He hates doing interviews, almost never smiles, and he wasn’t even looking forward to the NBA title-winning parade, citing that he just wants to go home!
However, no one can undermine his abilities in the sport:
· He is the best pure passer in the league
· He is the best scorer
· A two-time MVP
· 2023 NBA Champion
Lionel Messi
The last name in our list is Lionel Messi, who has simply risen to new heights after winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. A move to MLS followed in 2023 – a transfer that saw him reject the riches of Saudi Arabia, where his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo plays.
His move to Inter Miami has made fans in the USA frenzy – to say the least! It seems like every kid in Miami now owns a Messi pink shirt, and his deal with the MLS includes Apple TV subscriptions. That way, some argue that his move to the USA may not just revolutionize football, but the way people watch the sport in the country!
A Memorable Year Draws its Curtains
We only have so much space here, hence the absence of the likes of Novak Djokovic, Max Verstappen, Kelvin Kiptum, and Kaylee McKeown, just to name a few.
What we like about all these achievements is that they are as versatile as they can get! From football to artistic gymnastics and basketball – 2023 has been nothing short of impressive stats and feats. We cannot wait to see what 2024 has prepared for all sports lovers!
