From the Ring to the World Cup – How Billions Tune In to Witness History
Sport is one of the few universal languages. It unites people across the globe, bringing billions together in front of their screens for moments of triumph, heartbreak, and awe. Based on global viewing figures from The Sun and LA Times, here’s a countdown of the most-watched sporting events in history – from modern digital spectacles to timeless classics.
10. Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson (2024)
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Viewership: 65 million This fight marked Netflix’s first-ever live sports broadcast, featuring a 58-year-old Mike Tyson returning to the ring. Despite limited action in the bout itself, its cultural hype and Jake Paul’s internet fame attracted 65 million viewers globally.
9. Super Bowl 2025 – Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles
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Viewership: 126 million This Super Bowl broke records in the U.S. as 126 million tuned in to watch the Eagles dominate the defending champions. It combined intense on-field drama with pop culture excitement, including Kendrick Lamar’s headline-making halftime show.
8. 2019 Rugby World Cup Final – South Africa vs England
By Rooiratel – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83964117
Viewership: 857 million South Africa’s emphatic win over England drew widespread attention. As rugby’s popularity expanded globally, the match became the UK’s most-watched TV event of the year and attracted a total global audience of 857 million.
7. Asian Games (most recent: 2022)
By 三猎 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=138509469
Viewership: 986 million Though lesser-known in the West, the Asian Games attract huge numbers due to the sheer scale of the continent. With 45 nations participating, this multi-sport event garners close to a billion viewers every four years.
6. 2019 Cricket World Cup
By Brian Minkoff-London Pixels – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33884932
Viewership: 1.6 billion Cricket’s passionate fanbase across countries like India, Pakistan, England, and Australia made this tournament a broadcasting giant. England’s thrilling victory in the final contributed to the massive 1.6 billion total viewership.
5. Muhammad Ali vs Leon Spinks (1978)
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Viewership: 2 billion Ali’s final world title win became a truly global moment. His fame transcended boxing, and with millions of people across continents watching, the fight drew a staggering 2 billion viewers.
4. 2006 Winter Olympics – Torino, Italy
By Franco56 – fotografia personale, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1869719
Viewership: 2.1 billion The Torino Winter Olympics became the most-watched winter games ever. Audiences worldwide tuned in to follow winter sports from figure skating to alpine skiing, bringing in over two billion viewers.
3. 2024 Tour de France
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Viewership: 3.5 billion Thanks to its 23-day duration and coverage across 190 countries, the Tour de France reaches enormous cumulative audiences. It remains cycling’s biggest showcase, watched by 3.5 billion people globally.
2. Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics
By Tom Nguyen – originally posted to Flickr as IMG_0156, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4820055
Viewership: 4.7 billion As a symbol of China’s rise in global sport, the 2008 Olympics were a spectacular success. Athletes from around the world competed in front of nearly 5 billion viewers over two weeks, marking a modern high point for the Olympic Games.
1. 2022 FIFA World Cup – Qatar
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Viewership: 5.4 billion The tournament that saw Lionel Messi lift the trophy for Argentina became the most-watched sporting event in history. With 5.4 billion viewers across the month and 1.5 billion for the final alone, it solidified football’s global dominance.
Oliver Obel – Sports Content Creator & Football Specialist
I’m a passionate Sports Content Creator with a strong focus on football. I write for LenteDesportiva, where I produce high-quality content that informs, entertains, and connects with football fans around the world.
My work revolves around player rankings, transfer analysis, and in-depth features that explore the modern game. I combine a sharp editorial instinct with a deep understanding of football’s evolution, always aiming to deliver content that captures both insight and emotion.
