TWO years ago, Steve Smith couldn’t even cement his spot in Australia’s woefully underperforming middle order.

Now, the new golden boy of Aussie sport sits in the top echelon of global sporting superstars after being named as one of the world’s 50 most marketable athletes, in an official report released by SportsPro.

The list ranks athletes according to their marketing potential over a three-year period from this Australian winter, taking into account their value for money, age, home market, charisma, willingness to be marketed and crossover appeal.

Smith came in at number 45 on the list, and is the only Australian representative in a star-studded line-up.

The NSW product made the list due to his stunning performances over the past two years, highlighted by becoming Australia’s 45th Test captain in the recent home series against India, where he scored centuries in all four Tests.

Canadian tennis ace Eugenie Bouchard took out the top spot as the world’s most marketable athlete, the 21-year old pipping Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton for the title.

Bouchard rose to prominence during a breakout 2014, where she made her first two grand slam semi-finals at the Australian and French Opens, before becoming the first Canadian to play in a grand slam final when she reached the decider at Wimbledon.

She follows in the footsteps of some of world sport’s biggest names to have been crowned number one, including Hamilton (2014), Brazilian football superstar Neymar (2012 and 2013) and the fastest man on the planet Usain Bolt (2011).

While the list was packed with stars, just as many of the names would be unrecognisable to an Australian audience.

Names like Ding Junhui, the 28-year old snooker player from China, who snuck in at number 49, while everyone’s favourite equestrian show jumper, Jessica Springsteen, came in at 47.

Despite Smith’s popularity at home, he could not match the appeal of famed Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal, who edged him out for the number 44 spot.

And there can no longer be any debate about whether skateboarding actually constitutes a sport, as SportsPro named American Nyjah Huston the world’s 38th most marketable athlete.

Other notable selections were Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (22), this year’s Masters champion Jordan Spieth (3) and tennis world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

LeBron James is among the big names to have been left off the list entirely.

Click here to see SportsPro’s full list