Real Madrid football star, Cristiano Ronaldo, is top on the list of 20 athletes who have the most positive profitable influence in the world.
The list, which is dominated by Americans, is aimed at honouring the most charitable athletes of the year known as Athletes Gone Good.
Portugal captain, Ronaldo, raised money for various charity works including donating more than $83,000 to a 10-year-old fan in need of brain surgery and giving more than $165,000 to fund a cancer centre that treated his mother.
Ronaldo has also used his fame as a global spokesperson for a variety of causes including child hunger, obesity and biodiversity.
He is joined by WWE super star, John Cena, and Tennis goddess, Serena Williams in second and third places respectively.
John Cena’s recognition comes as a result of him granting nearly 500 wishes with his Make-A-Wish campaign. Cena is the most requested celebrity wish granter and holds the record for the most wishes granted through the organisation.
Using her role as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Serena Williams supported the 1 in 11 campaign aimed to support access to education. She uses her organisation, The Serena Williams Foundation, to help the less privileged.
South Korean figure skater, Yuna Kim, and another football super star, Neymar Junior, of Barcelona complete the top five for their roles as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors and participation in FIFA’s 11 Against Ebola campaign respectively.
The winners of Athletes Gone Good are selected as a result of a three-part methodology: Votes and nominations from the public, athletes’ influence on social media and advice from the Athletes Gone Good Advisory Committee.
“All over the world, athletes are using their platforms to rally fans around important causes,” said Naomi Hirabayashi, chief marketing officer at DoSomething.org. “DoSomething.org is proud to honour these athletes who are using their fame for good.”
The 2015 Top 20 Athletes Gone Good list
- Cristiano Ronaldo – (Football, Portugal)
- John Cena – (Wrestling, USA)
- Serena Williams – (Tennis, USA)
- Yuna Kim – (Skating, South Korea)
- Neymar Junior – (Football, Brazil)
- Lebron James – (Basketball, USA)
- Hearther O’rielly – (Football, USA)
- Maria Sharapova – (Tennis, Russia)
- Mo’ne Davies- (Little League Baseball, USA)
- Richard Sherman – (American football, USA)
- Charlie White & Meryl Davies – (Ice Dancing, USA)
- Dan Carter – (Rugby, New Zealand)
- Roman Reigns – (Wrestling, USA)
- Ronda Rousey – (Mixed Partial Arts, USA)
- Lindsey Vonn – (Alpine Ski Race, USA)
- Tom Daley – (Diving, England)
- Bethany Hamilton- (Surfing, USA)
- Saina Nehwal – (Badminton, India)
- Paul Rabil – (Lacrosse, USA)
- Shahid Afridi- (Cricket, Pakistan)
