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Patrick Mahomes vs Lionel Messi popularity battle heats up as Fox Sports hosts declare a clear winner
Patrick Mahomes vs Lionel Messi popularity battle heats up as Fox sports hosts declare a clear winner (Image via Getty)
Two of the most well-known names in sports are Patrick Mahomes and Lionel Messi. With millions of fans and countless honors, Mahomes—the NFL quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and Messi, a worldwide football legend who now plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, have many admirers.
One of them seems, however, to be the highlight in the United States. A recent talk on Fox Sports Radio raised a surprising point—Patrick Mahomes may be more popular than Lionel Messi in America. Even though Lionel Messi is a global icon, some believe Patrick Mahomes holds the spotlight here at home.
Patrick Mahomes appears to be more popular than Lionel Messi in the U.S., according to Fox radio hosts
Hosting the Covino and Rich Show on Fox Sports Radio on Friday, June 14, 2025, Steve Covino and Rich Davis arrived at an interesting conclusion: Which sports star is bigger in the U. S. ? Patrick Mahomes or Lionel Messi?
Steve Covino said he believes Patrick Mahomes is still ahead in terms of fame in America.
He explained, 'I'm going Mahomes. It's America's game.'The hosts pointed out that football has a stronger hold in U.S. culture than soccer.
Even though Lionel Messi came to support the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LVIII in New Orleans earlier this year, Patrick Mahomes still gets more attention. That Super Bowl was one of the most-watched events in the country, but even Lionel Messi's appearance didn't change the fact that NFL players get more media buzz in America.
They also shared that even with a slight 2% drop in NFL viewership this season, the league still leads all sports in U.S. television ratings.
Lionel Messi's global fame still can't top Patrick Mahomes' American spotlight
Rich Davis said on air, 'If you ask 100 kids in middle or high school who they want to visit their school, most would say Mahomes.' He also added, 'Soccer is growing, and the younger generation is starting to care more.'
Still, both Steve Covino and Rich Davis agreed that Lionel Messi is much bigger around the world. Steve Covino said, 'Messi owns the rest of the world. No question.' But he ended the talk by saying Patrick Mahomes remains the face of American sports today.
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