No six-pack, just charm: Luke Littler voted ‘world’s sexiest athlete’, ahead of Lando Norris and Jude Bellingham

Darters are not exactly known as the most alluring athletes in the world. With one exception, no shiny six-packs, no sun-tanned bodies in designer suits, and usually no millions of followers on social media. But Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation from England, is proving that real attraction is more than a toned body or a perfect haircut. In fact, the young dart player has been named the "sexiest athlete in the world," and that is remarkable to say the least.

The election was organized by illicitEncounters.com, the UK's largest dating site for married people. For the survey, 2,000 female members were asked to rate a list of 30 male sports stars for their sex appeal.

And to everyone's surprise, Luke Littler in particular emerged as the winner. He left behind such big names as Jude Bellingham, Tyson Fury and even NFL star Travis Kelce.

According to the women surveyed, attraction is not about looks alone. They were particularly charmed by Littler's confidence, sincerity and approachability. This is exactly what, despite his young age, makes him a crowd pleaser - not only among darts fans, but now beyond.

That Luke Littler won this title was something hardly anyone could have seen coming. The young Brit broke through on the world stage in late 2023 when he took the darts world by storm as a teenager with his spectacular performance at the World Darts Championship. Since then, his star has been rising - literally and figuratively. His talent, bravado and down-to-earth charisma have quickly made him one of the most talked about names in the sport.

The top ten in the election were as follows:

An impressive list, especially considering that Littler is not exactly in the same category as these established sports icons. Still, the results show that charisma and personality are just as important as looks these days.

Littler seems to be taking it all in with his characteristic modesty. While social media exploded after the announcement, he himself had something very different to celebrate: he got his driver's license. And that may be called an achievement in itself, as the young darter had to go up for his theory exam no less than seven times before he succeeded. The practical part, on the other hand, went flawlessly: "First time and no mistakes!" he proudly wrote on Instagram.

At 18 years old, Littler has already amassed an impressive trophy case and seems well on his way to becoming one of the greatest darters of all time. His talent at the board is undeniable, but this new title adds an unexpected dimension to his image. It makes him not only a sporting phenomenon, but also a cultural icon in the making.

Whether he himself places much value on the "sexiest athlete in the world" designation is doubtful. Littler probably prefers to keep himself busy perfecting his finishes and winning tournaments. Still, this title will undoubtedly make him even more popular with fans worldwide - and maybe the sport of darts will even gain a few new followers. Littler can now focus on the Grand Slam of Darts, which starts next Saturday in Wolverhampton.