On his way to becoming the GOAT of streaming
iShowSpeed, also known as Speed, has become one of the most recognised sports streamers on the internet. His enthusiasm and loud personality have made him a highly likeable character. Obsessed with Cristiano Ronaldo, he has also led the online support for Ronaldo as the GOAT rather than Lionel Messi. Always wearing the Portuguese national team shirt, his admiration extends even further, as he becomes starstruck every time he sees Ronaldo. However, Speed is not only respected for his personality but also for his athleticism and competitiveness.
Speed has challenged almost every internet athlete, and he has beaten many of them convincingly. He has even challenged Olympians and has either beaten them or come remarkably close to doing so. What makes Speed so likeable is that he never shies away from a challenge. Whenever he sees an athlete, he wants to race them, and nine times out of ten, he either beats them or humiliates them. Even millennials who once found him annoying have started to appreciate him because of his competitive spirit. Although his core audience consists of Generation Z and Generation Alpha, he is beginning to reach a much older audience because of his influence during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speed is never afraid to make bold statements, and he proved this when he publicly asked FIFA to include his song ‘Champion’ on the FIFA World Cup album tracklist, which they did. He also requested to perform the song during the opening ceremony, but this was declined as there were more established artists on the programme. Arguably, he was a bigger star than some of the artists who performed at the opening ceremony in Oregon.
His bold approach has also secured a major partnership with Fox to stream World Cup content to his followers. One of his World Cup streams attracted more than eight million views, and Fox struggled to keep up with the demand. This demonstrates how Speed is gradually changing the landscape of sports broadcasting, as traditional television is no longer reaching large numbers of younger viewers. Generation Alpha and Generation Z may not be familiar with pundits such as Thierry Henry or Zlatan Ibrahimović, but they certainly know who Speed is.
The broadcasters covering the World Cup consistently feature him whenever he is in the stadium, while ESPN has generated millions of views, likes, and engagements through posts featuring him. Speed is likely to change the way football is broadcast long after the World Cup has ended.
