Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer feature in list of athletes with best image in Spain as impact continues despite retirement and inactivity

Despite not being active on tour over the last year, tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were recently featured on a list of athletes with the best image in Spain.

Federer retired in 2022, following a career that spanned two decades and saw him hold the World No.1 position, in addition to capturing 20 Grand Slam titles. Conversely, Nadal had been out of action for the bulk of 2023 due to injury, but the Spaniard is just as accomplished as his Swiss rival, having also held the spot atop the ATP rankings and currently sits with 22 Grand Slam trophies to his name.

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Nadal headlines the list of athletes with the best image in Spain

According to a survey conducted by SPSG Consulting, it comes as no surprise that the Mallorcan tops the list of athletes in his native land with a 95.70% approval rating. The 14-time French Open champion defeated the likes of Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta, Fernando Alonso, Pau Gasol and Sergio Ramos to claim the top spot. Rising Spanish tennis phenom Carlos Alcaraz came in fourth with a 16.65% rating.

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Meanwhile, Federer was third in the category of international athletes with 53.10% favorability whereas rival Novak Djokovic was seventh with a 16.98% approval rating. Nonetheless, it was football superstar Lionel Messi who topped the list with a 90% approval rating while Cristiano Ronaldo came in second with 62.28% favorability. Basketball players Michael Jordan and LeBron James were placed fourth and sixth with 18.74% and 17.18% ratings respectively.