Next Sporting Knighthood Odds: McIlroy Leads Market to Become A Sir
Arise, Sir David Beckham!
The lad from Leytonstone has finally done it after he was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours list.
The former England captain had long been tipped for such an honour, and he has now achieved his goal thanks to King Charles.
Beckham was awarded a knighthood for services to sport and charity, 22 years after receiving an OBE in 2003.
Following the ex-Manchester United star's huge achievement, speculation on betting sites has increased about which sporting star will be the next to receive a knighthood.
Sir Rory?
Norther Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy is 8/11 favourite on betting apps to be knighted next, after he became the sixth golfer in the men's game to complete a career Grand Slam earlier this year.
Rory secured the feat when he won the 2025 Masters, after defeating his European Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose in a tense play-off.
Following his Masters success, it was reported in the Daily Telegraph newspaper that he could be in line for a knighthood.
Rory's chances will increase massively if he has a big part to play in a Ryder Cup victory for Europe this year.
Next Sporting Knighthood Odds
Celebrity | Odds | Probability |
Rory McIlroy | 8/11 | 57.9% |
Kevin Sinfield | 10/11 | 52.4% |
Marcus Rashford | 6/4 | 40% |
Luke Donald | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Jonathan Davies | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Ronnie O'Sullivan | 3/1 | 25% |
Jake Wightman | 4/1 | 20% |
Joe Root | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Anthony Joshua | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Ben Stokes | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Luke Littler | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Jack Draper | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Luke Humphries | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Gary Neville | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Sol Campbell | 25/1 | 3.8% |
Europe's finest golfers will head to the United States to compete for the 45th Ryder Cup between September 25-28.
Last weekend, McIlroy became the first player to automatically qualify for Team Europe for the 2025 Ryder Cup, sealing his spot with two months of the qualification period still to play.
He said: "It’s always a huge honour to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup, so it means a great deal to have qualified for my eighth in a row and to be part of Luke’s team again at Bethpage."
Europe are a best priced 13/8 to defeat the USA, and their team captain Luke Donald (2/1) could also earn a knighthood if the continent are successful.
Arise, Sir Kev
While Beckham was overlooked for a knighthood for years, another sports star is still in the same boat.
Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield was awarded an MBE in 2014 for his services to the sport, an OBE in 2021 for services to the sport and charitable fundraising, and a CBE in 2024 for services to motor neurone disease awareness.
While a knighthood eludes him, he is just 10/11 second favourite to be the next sports star knighted.
It comes after he has raised more than £16million for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) charities since 2019, after his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate, Rob Burrow, was diagnosed with the disease.
Burrow tragically died from complications of MND in June 2024, aged 41.
Despite constant calls for Sinfield - whose feats include running seven ultra-marathons in seven days - to be made a Sir, he previously played down such speculation.
Speaking in 2021, he said: "It's really nice, but I'd much rather the Government keep giving funds to MND and to try and find a cure.
"It's not about that (honours). The big driver is the Rob Burrow Care Centre in Leeds. It's really important to all of us."
Following the 2025 New Year's Honours, Rob's father Geoff Burrow branded it "disgraceful" that Kevin hadn't been recognised.
The Rocket To Pocket Knighthood
Other sporting stars who could be in line for a knighthood in the 2026 New Year's Honours include England footballer Marcus Rashford (6/4), who was awarded an MBE in 2021 for campaigning to ensure school children received free meals across the summer amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan - who was awarded an OBE in 2016 - could also pocket a knighthood in the new year.
In May, former World Snooker Tour boss Barry Hearn called for O'Sullivan, who is nicknamed The Rocket, to be named Sir Ronnie for his services to snooker.
Hearn said: "Well, to put it in context, Ronnie O’Sullivan has been the best player in the world for many years. There’s no question about that. I mean the boy is a total phenomenon.
"There’s a case to say that he deserves to be picked out and to be knighted for services to snooker. Ronnie is cross-generational, isn’t he? Ronnie, when he plays, my wife watches. My grandchildren watch.
"Because he is something magical. I mean he’s human. He has different parts of attitude that may not appeal to everybody. But for his sheer excellence, I think there’s a very good case to be made. And I would welcome it."
Sol To Be Snubbed Again?
Others who would welcome a knighthood include former England footballer Sol Campbell, who insisted in 2024 he is one of the UK's "sporting greats".
He said on GB News: "I think for me when it comes to honours and lists, if it comes to a popularity contest there's a lot of people who are unpopular who have Sirs, OBEs and MBEs.
"If you look at what I've done and what I've gone through playing football and the consistency over the course of two decades, under severe pressure in a football sense, I'm up with some of the sporting greats of our country."
Since making the comments in 2024, Campbell, who doesn't have an MBE or OBE, is a 25/1 outsider for a knighthood.
However, knighthoods can be awarded without requiring another honour, like an MBE, first.
Another outsider to be knighted next time out is British tennis ace Jack Draper.
He is a best priced 11/1 to win this year's Wimbledon, and just 8/1 with most UK bookmakers.
If Draper wins big on centre court this summer, he will be much shorter than his current price of 14/1 to be the next sports star to earn a knighthood.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
