Ronaldo and Virat Kohli
In a nod to the enduring global appeal of sports icons, Google unveiled its list of the most searched topics in its illustrious 25-year history, with former India skipper Virat Kohli and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo earning special mentions. The two renowned athletes have continued to make waves in the 2023 season, leaving an indelible mark on the sporting landscape.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to depart Manchester United for a new adventure in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr FC has proven fruitful, with the football maestro dominating the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo’s pinnacle moment came when he scored his 50th goal of the 2023 season during Al-Nassr’s commanding 5-2 victory over bitter rivals Al Shabab in the Saudi King Cup. The 38-year-old showcased his prowess by netting the historic goal with his right foot in the 74th minute. Since his move to the oil-rich kingdom post the FIFA World Cup 2022, Ronaldo has maintained an outstanding goal-scoring average of nearly one goal per game. The prolific forward has also made a significant impact on the international stage, scoring 10 goals for Portugal in nine matches this year.
Defying his perennial rival Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as the most searched athlete on Google’s list. In a tweet from Google’s X account (formerly Twitter), the search engine giant acknowledged the significance of the last 25 years and looked ahead to the future, stating, “If the last 25 years have taught us anything, the next 25 will change everything. Here’s to the most searched moments of all time. #YearInSearch.”
Notably, batting icon Virat Kohli claimed the title of the most searched cricketer in 2023. Kohli, a vocal admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo, led Rohit Sharma’s Team India to the final of the ICC World Cup 2023. Despite the team’s impeccable record in the ODI World Cup, securing a perfect ten, they faced defeat against Australia in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
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Kohli’s personal achievements in the tournament included surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record tally of 49 centuries, achieving his 50th century against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals. The 35-year-old also finished as the leading run-scorer in the World Cup, accumulating an impressive 765 runs in 11 games.
