Virat Kohli beats Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic to SportsPro's 3rd most marketable player

New Delhi: Sensational Virat Kohli continues to break new grounds. And the latest accolade the Indian batsman has won is becoming SportsPro's third Most Marketable Sportsperson in the world.

In it's latest survey, the British magazine puts the Indian Test captain ahead of global superstars like Barcelona's record five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi and tennis' top ranked player Novak Djokovic.

Kohli, currently leading Royal Challengers Bangalore in the cash-rich Twenty20 league Indian Premier League, is ranked behind NBA's 'Most Valuable Player' Stephen Curry and Juventus' French international Paul Pogba.

The 27-year-old right-handed batsman possibly playing his best cricket, scoring at will. He will lead RCB in their second IPL final this Sunday.

Djokovic is 23rd in the list, followed by Messi at 27th and Jamaican 'Sprint King' Usain Bolt at 31.

Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza is in top-50 list.

According to SportsPro, which does extensive research on business of sports, the criteria of ranking athletes from across the world is marketing potential over a three-year period from this summer.

The components they have been assessed are value for money, age, home market, charisma, willingness to be marketed and crossover appeal.