Luke Littler has been crowned as Google’s Athlete of the Year, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both missing out on the top ten entirely
Luke Littler has been crowned as Google’s Athlete of the Year.
The darting prodigy, 17, won the award after he was named as Google’s most searched athlete in the UK during 2024. Littler finished ahead of the likes of Lamine Yamal and Simone Biles, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi failed to crack the top ten.
Littler’s impact reached out of sporting circles too – and he was only beaten in the overall list by Kate Middleton and Donald Trump. Meaning Littler was Googled more than Sir Keir Starmer over the past 12 months.
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“To be recognised in two Year in Search lists is a huge honour,” Littler said. “It’s been an amazing year for me personally, and for the sport of darts as a whole.
“I can’t quite believe I’m trending higher than both the Prime Minister and the King in the ‘People’ category—and in a year of such great sporting achievements, it’s a proud moment for me to be the top trending athlete in 2024.”
Matt Cooke from the Google News Initiative, added: “2024 has been a year of comebacks, curiosity, and community.
“Whether it’s fans reuniting for Oasis, young sports stars like Luke Littler making waves, or Brits voting in everything from elections to Eurovision, these searches show a nation full of passion and interest.
“It’s amazing to see what captivated the UK, and it’s always a privilege to highlight these moments in our Year in Search.”
Yamal finished second, while Biles was third. Jude Bellingham and Team GB superstar Adam Peaty rounded out the top five. Anthony Joshua, Ollie Watkins, Chris Hoy, Cole Palmer and Nico Williams made up the top ten.