Bold statement! IPL founder claims IPL stars will surpass Messi and Ronaldo in popularity
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The founder of the Indian Premier League, Lalit Modi, has made an audacious and controversial statement.
Details: The seasoned official based his ambitious claim on the example of young prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who, at just 14-15 years old, has already been showcasing world-class cricket at the highest level. According to Modi, it is precisely the IPL that has created a unique ecosystem capable of turning teenagers into global superstars and giving hope to millions around the world who dream of making it big in sports.
Modi is absolutely convinced that in the next five years, the balance of power in the global entertainment and sports industry will dramatically shift in favor of cricket.
“Within the next five years, the most talked-about stars on the planet will shine not just in India—they will be IPL players. They will become more popular than Messi and Ronaldo,” the former league chief declared unequivocally.
Lalit Modi believes the main driver of this tectonic shift is the colossal and passionate audience that provides cricket with an unshakable foundation for dominance. Thanks to India's 1.5 billion-strong population, top players from the local league are guaranteed to reach the pinnacle of global recognition.
Reminder: Lionel Messi became a billionaire.
