31 best fan bases in all of sports

By Greg Patuto | Sep 15, 2016

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Letroy Guion (98) and inside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) celebrate as they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half at EverBank Field. Green Bay Packers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

22. Manchester United

Manchester United are one of the most popular clubs in the world. In 2012, a survey found that there are 659 million United fans worldwide. That was in 2012, and the number has surely gone up since then.

The Red Devils have won a record 20 English league titles, 13 of which came under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Cristiano Ronaldo made his name at the club before leaving for Real Madrid. He made 292 appearances and scored 118 goals. Wayne Rooney is the current captain of the squad and ranks second on their all-time scoring list.

United rank first in league attendance by a large margin thanks to their home stadium, Old Trafford, which is the largest in the Premier League. Fans come from all over the world to watch United play at the Theatre of Dreams.

United entered a period of decline after Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, but seem to be back on track now under the leadership of Jose Mourinho. The arrival of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic over the summer was an indication of the stature of the club even after a few down years. There are few, if any, more globally popular clubs.

Next: 21. Dallas Cowboys