We are finally seeing Asia establish itself with all forms of sports and proving that its franchises have the potential to compete on the world stage. We feature in the list of five of the best Asian teams, who have been crowned multiple times, have numerous superstar players, and have massive followings across the continent.
These teams have put not just their pride in jerseys but also the winning attitude that motivates fans all over the globe. What are the differences that we talk about Asia’s Biggest Sports Team? Let’s dive deeper.
1. Al Nassr FC (27 million)
Al Nassr FC is renowned as one of the most prestigious football clubs in Asian history. It was founded on 18 October 1955, fulfilling its role deemed among many clubs in Saudi. The Saudi Pro League is their home and has been the place where they redefined their professional football.
The team of Al Nassr has won 9 Saudi Pro League titles as well as numerous domestic cups. They regularly qualify for the AFC Champions League, delivering a hammer blow to their rivals in Asia.
The sensational inclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023 was a global recognition as it brought Al Nassr to the forefront of world football.
Their international reach has been increased through the use of social media by Ronaldo. Millions of new followers came with his arrival to support the club.
Anderson Talisca and Morocco forward Abderrazak Hamdallah have also starred for Al Nassr.
The Saudi club has 27 million Instagram fans around the world, won by their international stars and a record of success.
2. Chennai Super Kings (16 Million)
The Chennai Super Kings has always been one of the most successful IPL franchises and has won 5 IPL titles. Since their start in the IPL 2008, they have ruled the league.
From Coach Stephen Fleming to Captain like MS Dhoni, the biggest name in cricket has now become a synonym with CSK’s success. Dhoni, the most successful IPL captain, has led to many victories for his franchise and numerous fans around the world.
In the 2024 Season, Ruturaj Gaikwad captained the side under the supervision of Dhoni. CSK has 16 million fans on Instagram, and the loyalty towards them is unboundedly immense.
Under Dhoni’s captaincy, the “Whistle Podu” Army has always supported their team over the years.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore (14.9 Million)
RCB is one of the most followed and star-studded teams in history, a batting-dominant team, but they never won an IPL title. This has resulted in their fanbase referring to themselves as the “People’s Team.” Despite making it to the final thrice, RCB was never able to cross the line to secure an IPL triumph.
Yet, they have all-stars up and down the field, making them the prime contenders to claim it all. Virat Kohli is the biggest name in world cricket, and he has been one of the biggest faces of RCB as a brand for so many years.
It adds even more shine to how this IPL franchise continues to be a globally resting place of giants, another one being AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle.
RCB is one of the only two teams that has not won a title and still garners a support base of around 14.9 million on Instagram. However, the global fame of Kohli makes headlines bigger and wordier to devoted RCB fans.
4. Mumbai Indians (14 Million)
Mumbai Indians have been one of the most successful franchises in the history of IPL and have also won the IPL trophy five times.
They have also won the Champions League T20 twice to assert their supremacy over cricketing teams under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.
He is acknowledged to be one of the best-ever T20 captains and also contributed heavily to the team’s success. With his cool and calm attitude the team honed the skills of performance under pressure.
His genius and passion inspired his squad to be always relentless in their pursuit of perfection in tough situations. It is their resilience and ability to adapt that makes Mumbai Indians champions.
No matter how tricky the scenario looks, they find a way to be on top, which makes them one of the strongest T20 cricket teams around the world.
5. Al Hilal SFC (10.7 Million)
Al Hilal SFC, the most significant club in Asia, has won a substantial number of competitions. Al Hilal, based in Riyadh, has earned numerous domestic and continental honours.
They have won 70 titles, including 19 Saudi Pro League crowns, which is a record, and they have won AFC Champions League trophies four times. Neymar, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Aleksandar Mitrović have previously competed for Al Hilal.
Asian fans admire these superstar names, and Al Hilal has become more prominent both domestically in Asia and globally as a result. A following of 10.7 million followers on Instagram has grown for Al Hilal throughout Asia.
Which of them are Asia’s Biggest Sports Team?
The success of the top sports teams in Asia can be gauged by their on-field success as well as off-field popularity. It gives teams like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Al Hilal an edge over others. The likes of Ronaldo have since elevated Al Nassr to more recent prominence.
Al Nassr takes the lead with 27 million fans when it comes to fan engagement, but CSK and RCB are not very far behind. As a result of social media and global exposure, these teams have extended their fan bases well beyond local support to international brands.
Their wealth of talent and success remains up for debate to an extent, but Al Nassr FC, CSK, RCB, Mumbai Indians, and Al Hilal SFC would undoubtedly compete. So whether it is on the cricket field or football pitch, these teams have no doubt captured millions.
The duo of star players and championship wins has grown them unprecedented global fan bases. With the rising dominance of sports in Asia, these franchises are set to validate their sports legacy further and remain at the forefront as Asia’s Biggest Sports Team for years to come.
