The total market volume of direct corporate financial sports sponsoring is at USD 30.87 bn with 93% of this funding is directed at the male sport industry. This is the result of Statista’s most recent analysis of the global sports sponsorship market. Statista’s sports experts focused on the direct corporate financial endorsement and sponsoring income received by athletes, leagues and teams, federations, governing bodies.

The highest volume of corporate sponsoring is concentrated in North America and Europe that make up 65% of the total. The largest share falls into the category of leagues and teams with 19.31 bn USD. Football reigns supreme with the highest funding via direct corporate financial sponsorship amounting to USD 12.84 bn. Its global popularity makes it the most attractive sport for companies to partner with. Though, when it comes to the world’s highest-paid athletes in sponsoring, it is Roger Federer as a Tennis player leading the game with USD 86 mn of sponsoring income, followed by Tiger Woods, a golfer, with USD 54 mn.

Women’s sports receive the least amount of sponsorship income compared to men’s sports with a share of only 7%. National and international competitions are dominated by men which makes their teams more attractive and beneficial for sponsors.

Researches have collected and analyzed data on current sponsorship income in sport. Sources include annual reports by leagues, teams, organizations, press reports on sponsorship agreements, studies and analyses by management consultancies and trade associations. The analysis examined of over 90 leagues and their respective teams, over 70 associations as well as the 160 best paid sportsmen and sportswomen. Focusing solely on the direct corporate financial endorsement and sponsoring income the report excluded sponsorship activation, business services, material support, broadcasting rights as well as eSports, show wrestling, retired athletes and coaches of all sports.

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