If any further confirmation was needed of Bastian Schweinsteiger's worldwide renown, ESPN provided it Tuesday with the release of the ESPN World Fame 100.
ESPN director of analytics Ben Alamar produced a list of the world's 100 most famous active athletes based, according to ESPN, on "a formula that combines endorsements with social media following and internet search popularity." Schweinsteiger -- the German World Cup champion, Bayern Munich legend and current Fire midfielder -- checked in at No. 68 on Alamar's final list.
Schweinsteiger is one of 38 soccer athletes and one of seven German internationals to make the cut. Schweinsteiger and Brazilian superstar Kaká (Orlando City SC) rank as the only two current Major League Soccer athletes in the ranking.
Schweinsteiger is a popular follow on social media, with more than 9.5 million Facebook fans, 8.5 million Instagram followers and 4.1 million Twitter followers.
Schweinsteiger has started all 10 matches for the Fire since his arrival to Chicago in late March, scoring two goals and adding three assists while helping the Men In Red climb to second place in the Eastern Conference (7-3-3, 24 points). The Fire are next in action on Sunday (June 4), traveling to face Orlando City SC at 6:30 p.m. CT with FS1 carrying the game to a national audience, before returning home to host Atlanta United FC on Saturday, June 10 (3 p.m.).
Click here to view the full list of ESPN's World Fame Top 100.
