Top 10 Best Sports Sponsorships in the World 2025

List of Top 10 Best Sports Sponsorships in the World 2025:

Sports sponsorships have become powerful marketing instruments that combine brand awareness, cultural effect, and global reach. The worldwide sports sponsorship industry is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% between now and 2025. By 2034, it will be worth USD 161.12 billion, thanks to big events like the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Women's EURO 2029, and the rise of women's sports and esports. These relationships not only help athletes perform better and make events happen, but they also connect with billions of fans across the world in a real way.
This list shows the top 10 sports sponsorships of 2025. They were chosen based on things like how long they last, how much money they make, how well they fit with the brand, how much worldwide visibility they get, and how creative their activations are. These sponsorships show how businesses are "all in" on sports to build loyalty and come up with new ideas. They range from legacy deals in the Olympics to high-octane motorsports and grassroots programs. Rankings are based on industry research, such as Expert Market Research's top sponsorship firms and Sponsor Breakthrough studies, which focus on partnerships with high recognition and return on investment (ROI).

1. Coca-Cola:

Coca-Cola's sponsorships of sports are known for bringing people together and making them last. The company has had the longest-running association in Olympic history since 1928. Coca-Cola will still be a TOP (The Olympic Partner) sponsor in 2025, offering drinks to competitors, officials, and supporters throughout the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. They will also be involved in interactive events like the Olympic Torch Relay. The company has extended its global FIFA collaboration, which will last until the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. From June to July, it will revitalize 32 major clubs throughout U.S. venues, giving exclusive fan zones and programming. Coca-Cola also renewed its three-year arrangement to be the official soft drink of the Premier League. Through ESPN Events, the company also promotes HBCU football with events like the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl.
This sponsorship is powerful because it makes people feel included and excited. It reaches more than 3 billion Olympic watchers and 5 billion FIFA enthusiasts. It brings in hundreds of millions of dollars a year and strengthens Coca-Cola's status as a cultural icon. Programs for young people like Copa Coca-Cola focus on community development. The partnership's focus on women's sports, including every FIFA Women's World Cup since 1991, fits with the growing number of women watching sports, giving them the best worldwide ROI.

2. Adidas:

Adidas is the biggest sponsor of sports in 2025 with its "Elite Club" portfolio, which includes 10 top-tier football teams for the 2025-26 season, such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Celtic, and AS Roma. This growth, which includes Liverpool's return to Adidas after 14 years (replacing Nike), brings in a lot of money from kit sales and lifestyle goods. The company has 11 of the 20 most profitable football partnerships in the world. Adidas inked a long-term arrangement with Athletics Ireland to supply kits starting in January 2025. The company will provide clothing for national teams and competitions.
Adidas's approach focuses on new ideas and giving young people power. For example, the brand's 2025 campaign "You Got This" uses documentaries with athletes and fans to encourage positivism in sports. With sales of more than €23.7 billion in 2024, these sponsorships, which are worth billions in total, make up 60% of Adidas's earnings from football alone. The brand's focus on women's and new sports, such teaming up with Bad Bunny for cultural crossovers, makes it popular with a wide range of people. It is one of the top players in a market where soccer sponsorships make up 40% of all transactions.

3. Gatorade:

Gatorade's 2025 partnerships show that it has been the best way to stay hydrated for more than 50 years. It has legacy deals with the NFL (official sports drink since 1983), the NBA (since 1984), the MLB (since 1990), and the SEC (since 1989). The company's NFL agreement, which has been renewed through 2027, gives the brand visibility on the sidelines during every game, when teams drink more than 464,000 liters of Gatorade every year. The collaboration also includes creative events like the Gatorade Shower tradition. In 2025, Gatorade's Performance Partner program with Move United gives $10,000 to five adaptive sports programs to help make high school sports more inclusive. The company also supports NIL deals with rising players in leagues like Unrivaled.
Gatorade has a 70% share of the U.S. market and spends more than $322 million a year on sports (part of PepsiCo's portfolio). This makes it very well-known, as seen by its top ranking in Sponsor Breakthrough study for NFL awareness. Community funds help get young people involved in sports, which is down 10%, while endorsements from athletes like LeBron James and Lionel Messi increase support by 20%. These sponsorships are quite real, and they make drinking water a sign of strength and inclusion.

4. Red Bull:

Red Bull's 2025 sponsorships are the best examples of adrenaline-fueled branding. They cover extreme sports, racing, and esports. The big energy drink company renewed its $90–100 million per year sponsorship of the Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 title, helping Max Verstappen defend his title together with partners like Visa and EA Sports for gaming tie-ins. Red Bull is returning in NASCAR after 14 years and is sponsoring Trackhouse Racing for six Cup Series races, supporting drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch. Red Bull supports more than 100 athletes in extreme sports competitions like the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour and music-infused events like festivals with Bad Bunny. Its investments in RB Leipzig and Leeds United mix football with cultural importance.
Red Bull's concept, which focuses on "giving wings" through athlete development and media production through Red Bull Media House, reaches 1.5 billion people per year and makes $226 million in F1 revenue in 2023 alone. In 2025, the company will expand into women's rugby and padel, showing how adaptable it is. Viral material, like Stratos jump views that top 50 million, will also bring in a lot of money. This sponsorship is unique since it turned a drink into a lifestyle empire.

5. Rolex:

Rolex's sponsorships in 2025 show ageless quality, with title agreements at top events that stress precision. Since 2019, the French Open and since 1978, Wimbledon are been sponsored by the luxury wristwatch. The "Rolex Family" documentary series features Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz. Rolex is the official timekeeper for F1 and the Australian Grand Prix, and it also sponsors the DP World Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup in golf. Hans Wilsdorf's ambition from the 1920s is still alive and well in the company's portfolio, which includes equestrian and sailing arrangements like SailGP's inaugural title sponsorship.
Rolex's strategy, which includes long-term commitments of 40 years, gives prestige to more than 500 million spectators with partnerships worth more than $10 million every event. In 2025, things like athlete testimonies will make the sport more popular, which is in line with luxury trends in women's sports. This sponsorship is great since it makes watches a sign of success without being too commercial.

6. Toyota:

Toyota's sponsorships for 2025 focus on community-driven mobility. This is the third year that Toyota has been the NFL's Official Automotive Partner, and this year's theme is "All In, All Season." The contract lasts for several years and includes halftime shows on NBC, giveaways for fans (such Super Bowl tickets and a 2025 Land Cruiser), and support for more than 300,000 NFL FLAG young players, including the Glow Up Classic black-light game. In soccer, Toyota is back as the official automotive sponsor of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. They are showing off their Tundra, Tacoma, and 4Runner trucks in a campaign that celebrates Latino passion, including in-game branding and digital content through partner Conill.
Toyota's NFL agreement, which builds on 67 years of grassroots football, reaches 180 million U.S. fans and boosts sales with real stories (like Eli Manning campaigns). After the Paris Olympics, Toyota stopped sponsoring the Olympics and switched to youth sports that are open to everyone. This has been a big success in many markets. This collaboration is great since it combines durability with fan involvement.

7. Emirates:

Emirates is the biggest sponsor of sports in 2025, with over 130 deals, mostly in football. They have shirt deals with Arsenal (until 2028, £50 million/year), Real Madrid (until 2026), AC Milan (until 2025), Benfica (until 2025), and new partnerships like Al Ain FC for the FIFA Club World Cup and Bayern Munich as a platinum sponsor. In addition to soccer, Emirates sponsors the NBA Cup (now called the Emirates Cup), the Rugby World Cup (referees' jerseys since 1987), the US Open (tennis since 2012), and Lancashire CCC (cricket). Emirates spends 60% of its marketing expenditure on football, which helps the UAE become a sports hub by reaching 4 billion people every year. The FA Cup Final and women's rugby are two events in 2025 that will strengthen cultural links. This sponsorship is worth more than $200 million a year, and its size and length make it a standard for worldwide communication.

8. Visa:

As a TOP Olympic partner since 1986 (renewed until 2032) and the first global Paralympic sponsor since 2003, Visa's 2025 sponsorships focus on inclusivity and digital innovation. Team Visa helps more than 500 athletes by giving them the tools they need for the Milano Cortina Games. Visa's FIFA agreement in football will last until 2026 and includes the Club World Cup, the Women's World Cup, and UEFA accords. F1 with Red Bull Racing (Visa Cash App RB's title partner) and the FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup title sponsorship are two examples of motorsports.
Visa spends more than $150 million a year on things like the F1 Academy and contactless payments at events. This gives the brand a 20% boost. GlobalData named it the best payments sponsor because it provides seamless fan experiences in over 200 countries.

9. McDonald's:

McDonald's sponsorships for 2025 focus on accessibility. They include a three-year title deal for France's Ligue 1 (beginning in 2024, €20 million/year), which will make it "McDonald's Ligue 1" and connect pro football to more than 1,500 amateur clubs through franchisee assistance. In the U.S., it gives out the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup and works with WNBA player Angel Reese on "The Angel Reese Special" meal, which is the first item endorsed by a female athlete. It includes BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder promotions. McDonald's supports the Southeast Asian Games and youth initiatives all throughout the world, such as UK football coaching for kids ages 5 to 11. McDonald's ends their partnership with the Olympics and puts money into esports and women's sports, reaching over 100 million fans. This technique, which goes from the bottom up, strengthens community bonds and has a high return on investment from app integrations and HBCU activations.

10. PepsiCo:

PepsiCo's sponsorships for 2025 cover its whole portfolio. They include UEFA Women's Football until 2030 (Pepsi, Lay's, and Gatorade as sponsors for Champions League and EURO 2029), as well as Kick-Off Shows at the championships. Gatorade keeps the UCL sidelines hydrated, and PepsiCo's new global relationship with F1 (until 2030) gives Gatorade the title of Sprint races and promotes Doritos/Sting at events. EA Sports FC (video game integrations) and NFL extensions (28+ years) are two more deals. PepsiCo spends $323 million in the Americas alone, and their concentration on women's sports and cultural crossovers (like the Pogba advertisements) attracts 2 billion followers. As a major non-alcoholic sponsor, it boosts sales through fun events like 5v5 tournaments.