Lionel Messi, Neymar and Manchester United Top Asian Popularity Survey Results
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Manchester United are not only immensely popular in Europe but also in Asia, too.
According to Mumbrella Asia, sports marketing agency Octagon conducted a survey of 1,200 people in six Asian countries and found Barcelona star Messi to be the most beloved player in five of them with Cristiano Ronaldo typically close behind.
Likewise, United were voted the most popular football club ahead of the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Of the countries surveyed, Japan was the only exception with AC Milan topping its club vote and Messi's team-mate Neymar the most favoured player.
Regarding the popularity of the La Liga stars, Octagon regional head of strategy Adam Hodge said: "Over the years we have seen similar patterns of passion in the Middle East and Africa, where early stage fan passion is driven more by a player's profile in the media over affiliations with teams or even on-field performance."
As for the Red Devils' status, Hodge cited the "[David] Beckham and Ronaldo effect," United's "Asian friendly tours" and the "success of Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung."
He added: "If you’re picking your team from scratch, with little family ties or historic connections, why would you not want to be on a winning side?"
A number of top British and European clubs head to Asia on pre- and post-season tours in a bid to tap into the growing fanbase on the continent.
As clubs seek more and more revenue in order to continue attracting the world's best, the region represents a lucrative market for merchandising and TV rights.
Expect the profile of European football to continue growing in Asia as clubs continue to return there each year.
