No six-pack, just charm: Luke Littler voted ‘world’s sexiest athlete’, ahead of Lando Norris and Jude Bellingham
No six-pack, just charm: Luke Littler crowned ‘World’s Sexiest Athlete’ ahead of Lando Norris and Jude Bellingham
Move over chiselled abs and sculpted gym routines — the world has spoken, and charm officially wins.
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts phenomenon, has been crowned ‘World’s Sexiest Athlete’ in a surprise global fan poll that has sent social media into meltdown. The teenage sensation topped a star-studded shortlist that included Formula 1 golden boy Lando Norris and England football icon Jude Bellingham, proving that charisma, confidence and authenticity resonate far louder than six-packs and magazine shoots.
The poll, run by international lifestyle platform Pulse360, collected 3.2 million votes across 79 countries over the last month. Littler captured a staggering 41% of the total, leaving Norris and Bellingham trailing behind with 27% and 21% respectively. The remaining 11% was split across a handful of other sporting figures.
If the results shocked the public, they amused Littler himself.
“Sexiest athlete? Me?” he laughed when asked about the title after a practice session. “Listen, I love a kebab more than a gym session. But I’ll take it — it’s class. My mates won’t let me live it down.”
The unexpected triumph has sparked a wider conversation online about what fans now value in modern sports stars. While previous winners of similar polls leaned heavily toward sculpted physiques, Littler’s victory signals a shift — one prioritising personality, relatability, and self-assurance over traditional Hollywood aesthetics.
Fans have been quick to explain the appeal.
“He’s real. He eats what he wants, jokes around, and backs it up on stage,” one viral tweet read.
Another added: “He’s not trying to be a model, and that’s exactly why people like him. Confidence is the glow-up, and he’s dripping in it.”
Littler’s popularity has soared far beyond darts over the past year, fuelled by a debut season that delivered major titles, viral walk-ons, fast-talking interviews and an aura of effortless cool. It’s not just his 180s that captivate arenas — it’s his smirk after them, his unfiltered answers, and his refusal to reshape himself for mainstream approval.
The response among fellow athletes has been equally light-hearted. Lando Norris joked on social media, writing: “If Luke’s the benchmark now, I’m retiring from sit-ups.” Jude Bellingham posted a laughing emoji with the caption: “Darts over dedication. Fair play.”
Psychologists observing the reaction point to a broader trend: audiences are gravitating toward sports figures who feel accessible and genuine, especially among younger fan bases.
“Littler represents a modern kind of appeal,” explained pop-culture analyst Mira Laine. “It’s about comfort in your own skin, humour, and not performing an image. He gives people permission to like themselves without pretence.”
Whether he keeps the title next year remains to be seen, but one thing is certain — the era of charm over chiselled has officially arrived.
And at the centre of it, grinning, takeaway in hand, is darts’ biggest teenage superstar.
