Ilie Năstase, TIME's Person of the Year 2025?

  • By Elizabeth Sy
  • Bucharest
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Ilie Năstase among finalists for TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year?
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According to a well-placed source, Ilie Năstase is leading the race to become Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2025. But while the tennis player's fans are thrilled with the news, many people hold a very different opinion.

UPDATE 23/12/2024 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Why not Năstase for Person of the Year?

The list of nominees for Time magazine’s Person of the Year is always an eclectic mix of world leaders, pop culture icons, buzzworthy names, and human rights activists. The unexpected inclusion of the 78-year-old tennis player, as a 2025 nominee has therefore sparked controversy and debate.

“What makes Năstase so important is the potential and influence he now has, rather than anything he has already done,” said a panelist who preferred to remain anonymous, adding that earlier this month, the tennis player have already been named ‘Romanian Of The Year’ by some major Romanian newspapers and even ‘Bucharest Citizen Of The Year’ by the readers of a local gazette in Bucharest (Ilie Năstase's hometown).

Social Reactions to TIME’s Person of the Year

A representative for the tennis player was not immediately available for comment, but the announcement generated immediate reaction on Twitter:

“#NăstasePOY. Logical choice though I wouldn't have made the same one.”
— @TomMiller, 22 Dec 2024
“Congrats! Ilie has this charisma that seems to come out of nowhere.”
— @SamanthaJones, 22 Dec 2024
“Past recipients include Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler ... then why not Ilie Năstase?”
— @TheClassicObserver, 22 Dec 2024

Could 2025 officially be the Year of Ilie Năstase?

Still, TIME’s editors will make the final decision about who will grace the magazine’s cover as its 2025 Person of the Year.

Who do you think should be TIME’s Person of the Year for 2025?

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