Most popular sports in the world

The list of different sports is mind-bogglingly long. As fans, billions of us around the world regularly follow a team, or a particular individual, in competition or at an amateur level. But which sports are the most popular, and what sort of audience figures do they command? The 10 most popular sports in the world, ranked by fan numbers

1. Football
No prizes for guessing what sport takes the number one sport! Yep, football, also called soccer, is followed by a staggering 3.5 billion fans worldwide. Modern football originated in Britain in the 19th century. Today according to World Population Review, the "beautiful game" is played in over 230 countries around the world, but is most popular in Brazil.

2. Cricket
The second most popular sport in the world according to fan numbers is cricket, with a global audience of around 2.5 billion. The sport has a known history that stretches back to late 16th-century England. Besides Great Britain, cricket is immensely popular in India, Australia, Pakistan, the West Indies, South Africa, and New Zealand.

3. Hockey
The sport ranked third in terms of fan numbers is field hockey, with over two billion fans of the game worldwide. According to the International Hockey Federation, the game's origins can be traced back almost 4,000 years, with historical references found in Iran, Egypt, and Greece.

4. Tennis
Tennis has a long history. The origins of the game can be traced to a 12th–13th-century handball game called jeu de paume, played by European monks for entertainment roles during ceremonial occasions. Today, the sport commands an audience of over one billion fans. Pictured is Court Philippe-Chatrier, the main clay court at Roland Garros. The venue hosts the French Open.

5. Volleyball
Volleyball emerged as a sport in 1895, when the first recorded game took place in a gym at Holyoke in Massachusetts. Today, over 900 million fans enjoy this dynamic sporting activity.

6. Table tennis
Surprisingly perhaps, table tennis enjoys a worldwide fan base in excess of over 850 million, many of them Chinese. China in fact has established itself as the most popular country in table tennis, with a long history of success in the sport.

7. Basketball
Basketball is another hugely popular sport in the United States, and in many other countries around the world. An estimated 800-plus million fans across the globe follow the game.

8. Baseball
Baseball is one of the most iconic sports in the United States. The game enjoys worldwide popularity, however, with a fan base numbering over 500 million fans.

9. Rugby
Rugby is said to have originated at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England, in 1823. Today, over 475 million fans worldwide enjoy watching the sport.

10. Golf
Nelly Korda, also of the United States, is ranked number one in women's golf.

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