Are you also a fan of sports and want to know the top Googled U.S. athletes? To your surprise, you are not alone. People from all over the world want to know the 2026 viral U.S. athletes on the internet. Let’s get started with the most googled U.S. athletes list.
Top 10 Most Googled U.S. Athletes
1. Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur is the son of NFL player Deion Sanders. He is an NFL Quarterback. His slide to the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns sparked curiosity and debate among the fans. Fans questioned ‘Why was he overlooked?’ His instant success has also grabbed the attention of many. He backed Dillon Gabriel on the Browns, and his play got the attention of fans from all over the world. His bold attitude also brings him to the centre of attention many times and places him on the list of most searched American athletes.
2. Terence Crawford
Popularly known as Bud, the Nebraska boxing player, became the world’s most-searched athlete after his stunning victory over Canelo Álvarez in a superfight at a Zuffa Boxing event. He became the first male boxer to achieve an undisputed championship in three different weight classes. Fans searched endlessly for highlights, analysis, and his path from Omaha streets to global icon status. He is currently in the news because of his retirement at the age of 38. He mentioned that he is ‘walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove.’ Terence is a Five-weight boxing world champion.
3. Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs, an NFL player, exploded in searches after his relationship with pop star Cardi B came into the public eye in 2024. The birth of his and Cardi’s son in November 2025 has again made social media cover with this news. Another news that made him to the list of top 10 most searched athletes is his deal with the New England Patriots and ACL injury.
4. Stephen Curry
He once again won the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2022. Stephen won with 66 first-place votes for selfless leadership and mentorship. He, along with Draymond Green, skipped the fun games like against the Heat, which got him attention and fans calling him lazy.
5. Jayson Tatum
Tatum made his name as one of the NBA’s brightest stars by earning All‑NBA First Team honors and finishing high in MVP voting. He led the Celtics with consistency, which led people to compare him with legends like Larry Bird. But the season ended with Jayson getting injured, which sparked concern among the fans, and everyone wanted him to recover quickly.
6. Jalen Hurts
Hurts continued to prove that he is one of the best quarterbacks by helping the Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LIX. In 2025, he was ranked among the top league players. Fans love his leadership and calm nature, which made him on the list of the TIME 100 most influential people.
7. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers is an NFL player. He played with the Pittsburgh Steelers team, and they won. He has won four MVP awards. Aaron is in the news related to his retirement from the NFL. Philip Rivers has announced his retirement, but no news about Aaron’s retirement is out as of now.
8. Travis Kelce
Travis has gained instant attention after his engagement with Taylor Swift went viral. This happened in August 2025. Apart from this, Kelce is in the news because of his gameplay for the Kansas City Chiefs. He won Nationwide’s Charity Challenge for the second time for his school. However, engagement with Taylor Swift is the main reason for Travis being the most googled U.S. athlete in 2026. For more information related to his engagement, read this article.
9. LeBron James
LeBron became the oldest player to score 30+ points in a game. He is a 4-time winner of the NBA Finals MVP. He is among the highest-earning athletes globally. James is not limited to the NBA. He is the founder of SpringHill Company. He owns I PROMISE School in Akron, Ohio, which he inaugurated in 2018.
10. Cooper Flagg
Cooper got attention because he became the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. At the age of 18, he became the youngest player to reach big scoring and achieve milestones.
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Most Popular Athletes in the United States
Lionel Messi
- First player to score 100 career goals in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers
- Messi has led Inter Miami to winning their first-ever Leagues Cup title
- Continues to influence both South American and global football at the highest level
LeBron James
- Surpassed 39,000 career points while maintaining elite playoff performance
- Entered his 21st NBA season still performing at a top level
- Launched a $50 million youth education initiative in Ohio
Caitlin Clark
- Set the NCAA women’s basketball record for consecutive 30+ point games
- Youngest Iowa player to surpass 3,000 career points
- Elevated national attention to women’s college basketball through consistent performance
Patrick Mahomes
- Patrick broke the NFL record for most passing touchdowns in a single season
- Led the Kansas City Chiefs to their fourth consecutive AFC Championship game
- Recognized for combining elite athleticism with high football IQ
Travis Kelce
- Fastest tight end in NFL history to reach 11,000 career receiving yards
- Recorded 15 games with 100+ receiving yards in a single season
- Redefined the tight end role with unmatched consistency and playmaking ability
Viral U.S. Athletes on the Internet
| Name | Game | Reason for Going Viral |
|---|---|---|
| Ilona Maher | Rugby Sevens | Viral for her highlight-reel tries and sideline interviews during the 2021 Olympics, showing both skill and personality. |
| Stephen Nedoroscik | Gymnastics | Went viral after becoming the first U.S. male gymnast to win a world pommel horse title. |
| Tyler Downs | Diving | Gained attention for executing near-perfect dives at the 2022 World Championships while sharing behind-the-scenes TikTok clips. |
| Fred Richard | Gymnastics | Went viral for landing complex routines at the Youth World Championships and his expressive, relatable reactions during competitions. |
| Simone Biles | Gymnastics | Became a global sensation for her historic 7 Olympic medals, performing never-before-seen moves, and speaking out about athlete mental health. |
Most Searched NBA and NFL Players
| NBA Players | NFL Players |
|---|---|
| LeBron James | Patrick Mahomes |
| Stephen Curry | Travis Kelce |
| Kevin Durant | Jalen Hurts |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Aaron Rodgers |
| Ja Morant | Cooper Kupp |
Summary
The article above provides a list of the top 10 athletes most frequently searched for on Google. These players become the most searched and viral because of their constant hard work and dedication to practice. People should learn from the achievements of players like LeBron James and Terence Crawford. Is the name of your favourite player missing? Mention the name in the comment section for more updates.
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