Faculty Expertise: Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed Explores How Political Identity Shapes Football Fandom

Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed's research examines how political identities shape the way people engage with media, culture and public life. His latest study offers an example of how these influences can extend into unexpected areas, including football fandom. 

Drawing on responses from more than 10,000 participants across 26 countries, the study found that people who identified as politically liberal were generally more likely to favour Lionel Messi, while those with more conservative views tended to prefer Cristiano Ronaldo. The research also explored how factors such as social media news consumption and self-esteem relate to player preference. 

While the findings are rooted in football, the questions behind the study extend far beyond sport. The research sheds light on how political identities can shape cultural preferences and everyday choices that may appear unrelated to politics at first glance. 

The study sparked international media interest, attracting coverage from major news organisations including Al Jazeera and prominent football journalist Fabrizio Romano. 

For Associate Professor Saif, the findings contribute to a broader conversation about the intersection of politics, media and popular culture. As political identities become increasingly intertwined with the content people consume and the public figures they admire, studies like this help us better understand how those connections are formed and why they matter. 

Read the full feature on the study: Messi or Ronaldo? Your political ideology may play a part.