LeBron, World Cup hits on Facebook

ESPN.com news services

Facebook announced its annual Year in Review data on Tuesday, and sports played a significant part in mentions on the social networking site across a myriad of topics.

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LeBron James, who returned to his homestate Cleveland Cavaliers this season in free agency, was the site's Most Talked-About Athlete, followed by retired New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

The remainder of the top 10 was made up of boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.; Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning; New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony; U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard; Uruguay soccer player Luis Suarez, who bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match; Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo; and Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who recently was named NASCAR's most popular driver for the 12th straight year.

Facebook says its top 10 year-in-review lists are measured by how frequently a topic is mentioned in Facebook posts made between January and December. In compiling the lists, Facebook posts 'were analyzed in an aggregated, anonymized way, and then ranked to create a snapshot of the year on Facebook.'

Among the top global topics of the year, the World Cup was No. 1 on the list and sports occupied two other spots -- Super Bowl XLVIII between the Broncos and Seattle Seahawks at No. 8 and the Sochi Winter Olympics at No. 10. With its crossover appeal that took the world in general by storm, the Ice Bucket Challenge was fifth.

The Ice Bucket Challenge, the Super Bowl and the World Cup also were among Facebook's 10 Most Talked-About Topics.

The most-viewed Ice Bucket Challenge was former President George W. Bush. David Beckham was the only athlete on that list, at No. 5.