Fame and football: International reaction to World Fame 100

The ESPN World Fame 100 is a truly global experience. Thirty-one countries are represented in the list of the world's 100 most famous athletes, as measured through analytics. Football ranks second among the 15 sports represented with 17 players on the list (basketball leads with 20), including four of the top 10 -- No. 1 Cristiano Ronaldo, No. 3 Lionel Messi, No. 4 Neymar and No. 9 James Rodriguez.

To provide a global perspective, writers from some of ESPN's international sites wrote stories in response to the results of the World Fame 100. Here are excerpts from the translated versions of those pieces:

Argentine Messi is a low-profile legend

Lionel Messi, No. 3 in the ESPN World Fame 100, is up there among the greatest players of all time. You can compare him with Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Di Stefano, and you can debate whether he is better or worse than them -- but no one can take him down from that place of privilege he has already earned.

La Pulga's clear-cut attributes make him the best on the field: skill, ball control at speed, precision on goal, great shots and winning mentality. He has a rare talent, and even though he has become a global icon, he has managed to stay grounded. His name usually appears on the news for his actions inside the field and not for what he does outside. He's an example to follow.

Fame didn't make him giddy; he remains close to his family and his affections. One of his qualities is his low profile. He has enough microphones to say, question or point at anyone. This is Messi we are talking about; he could do anything he wants. But he doesn't. His statements are measured, he's not aggressive, he stays away from controversy, and he's focused only on playing.

In Barcelona, he is God. And how could he not be? Since his debut with the first team, the Catalan club has written the greatest part of its history. With a team that marked a turning point in soccer history under Pep Guardiola, Messi won multiple local and international titles: no less than seven Spanish titles, four UEFA Champions League titles and three Club World Cups, among other conquests.

-- Fabio Dana, ESPN Argentina

Ronaldo vs. Messi: Different kinds of fame

It is clear: Lionel Messi does not have to work hard to be who he is. If Cristiano Ronaldo was as calm as his Catalan rival, it is unlikely that he would even be a professional soccer player.

Of course, Cristiano deserves credit for molding himself in clay by working six days a week while his rival, the supernatural with the look of a lost opossum, simply builds paradise on the seventh day.

That's why Cristiano Ronaldo fills the magazines, appears on front covers and billboards, stars in trending videos, gains followers on Twitter and social networks, and appears on the side of a bus reclining in some underpants (more like thongs) which nobody sees as they are too busy admiring the rest of him.

Today, then, Cristiano Ronaldo is more famous than Messi. He is No. 1 in the ESPN World Fame 100. He is a visual and auditory inhabitant of the universe. Messi, No. 3 in the World Fame 100, is not. He prefers to go through life without bronzer, manicures and pedicures and without ties, bow ties and tailcoats. Because he is at his best when he is wearing the azulgrana as, undoubtedly, undeniably, Leo has proven to lack the same passion when he plays for the Argentinian national team.

Nowadays, the world of impact, showmanship, attention and off-field appeal belongs to CR7. A fame which is born, grows, reproduces and dies with the same character.

Lionel Messi is currently less famous but, in terms of legacy, significance and setting the benchmark, he will always be more famous than Cristiano.

-- Rafael Ramos Villagrana, ESPN Deportes

Messi's fame reign extends to Chile

Messi's magnetism in the narrow Andean country of Chile is similar to the effect that only players such as Pele or Maradona or local stars Elias Figueroa, Carlos Caszely and Marcelo Salas have had over the population.

It may seem odd that the biggest star of one of La Roja's major rivals is in fact the most renowned athlete in the country, but that has actually been a growth factor in his popularity and has moved him past other stars who stand out, such as Roger Federer and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Relations between Chile and Argentina are powerful and without restriction, and can be fully understood only by the inhabitants of these countries that share more than 4,000 kilometers of border. It's not a random fact, for example, that the biggest Chilean community residing abroad is settled on the opposite side of the Andes range, or that Chile is the country that hosts the largest Argentinean community in South America.

It's not surprising, therefore, that Messi's weekly brilliant performances in Barcelona are always news on Chilean television, newspapers and websites. Or that a large part of Leo's 85 million registered followers on Facebook are Chilean fans.

Messi's popularity in this strip of the world reached its peak between June and July 2015. In the Copa America hosted by Chile, local fans effectively displayed the fanaticism forged and the soccer fever awakened by the image of the Rosario-born international star.

-- Francisco Villalobos, ESPN Chile

Neymar keeps magic alive in Brazil

"I'd always like to have Neymar on my team; he is a great player."

The statement above came from none other than Pelé. And you can't disagree with the King's speech.

Neymar, No. 4 in the ESPN World Fame 100, seems to be the latest heir in a lineage of Brazilian superstars. He seems to have the same chemistry that created the magic in the "country of football."

Curiously, he was born to the sport at Vila Belmiro, the same stadium that welcomed and showed the world a young boy called Pelé.

After Santos, the next step was Barcelona, where Brazilian immortals such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo shined.

There, Neymar made a great partnership with Messi and was part of an unforgettable trio alongside Luis Suarez. Neymar dribbled, joked, scored, hit, fell. He did it all. He did so much that today it is impossible to list the world's best players without Neymar.

-- Ricardo Zanei, ESPN Brazil

Chicharito misses World Fame 100 but is No. 1 in Mexico

Having emerged from the Guadalajara club, with a history at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Javier Hernández is fast becoming the highest-scoring player on the Mexican national team and is the most influential athlete in Mexico.

He is charismatic and on-point, and he has a well-known, even religious, nickname. Chicharito, or "little sweet pea," has become a veritable brand in Mexico thanks to a series of factors that characterize him in his own nation and in much of the world.

Hernández is an example of constant struggle: always fighting to overcome adversities and constantly succeeding. In Mexico, stories constantly emerge about his career and what he has had to fight against to transcend the way things are done.

Every move that Chicharito makes is followed closely. He is the most-followed Mexican athlete on Twitter, with over 6 million followers, and his Instagram photos are always popular among the people.

The former Guadalajara player has used social media to express his support and solidarity for Mexico in the wake of natural disasters and political problems, even unconditionally supporting Chivas. Whatever the striker posts becomes a trending topic. That's why many brands compete for his image rights, so they can reach more people.

-- Iván Cañada, ESPN Mexico

Rodriguez breathes life into Colombia

James Rodriguez, No. 9 in the ESPN World Fame 100, is the man who gave Colombian soccer its soul back. While it is true that teamwork is the most important element in a sport like soccer, the midfielder's contribution has been instrumental in the revival of Colombia's national team.

His contribution doesn't end on the field; it goes far beyond. James is the captain and the leading figure of the Tricolor because he is also the world's best ambassador of Colombian soccer. The Cucuta-born player represents the natural talent of this land, and does so with great professionalism and character.

In short, at 24, James Rodriguez is the biggest player in Colombia's history. This statement may sound bold, but it aims to highlight the importance of Real Madrid's No. 10 in his own country.

The Tricolor played in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after 12 years of frustration and recorded the best performance in their history. That wouldn't have been possible without James' talent. With six goals in five games, he was crowned top scorer in the World Cup and gave Colombian soccer its most important prize ever achieved.

However, his role in such a great campaign didn't end there. James was the spiritual leader of a team that beat Uruguay in the Maracana and that came close to defeating the World Cup hosts. After that unforgettable tournament, Rodriguez became an even more important icon for the Colombian people.

-- Damian Didonato, ESPN Colombia