Lionel Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Yuvraj Singh and other famous sportspersons take the ALS #IceBucketChallenge

The ALS ice bucket challenge has now been taken by a host of prominent personalities the world over. In this scenario, sportspersons are not to be left behind. A number of prominent sportspersons such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, Kevin Pietersen, Novak Djokovic and Tiger Woods, among others, have also taken the challenge. 

ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease with various causes. It is characterised by muscle spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy, and difficulty in speaking, swallowing, and breathing. On an average, the affected person dies within a couple of years, and only 4% survive beyond 10 years. Most people die from breathing difficulties within the first three to five years of the onset of the disorder. ALS has no cure, though survival can be marginally improved through medication.

The ALS ice bucket challenge is an activity wherein a person pours ice cold water over himself or herself and then donates money to the cause of ALS research, also raising awareness about ALS in the process. It has gone viral on social media and throughout the world. A number of celebrities from all walks of life have taken the challenge, and in turn nominated others to take it.

Read: What you need to know about ALS, and why the #IceBucketChallenge is a great cause

Here are some of the world's most famous sportspersons taking the ALS ice bucket challenge:

Footballers:

Lionel Messi:

Neymar:

Cristiano Ronaldo:

Mario Balotelli:

Mesut Ozil:

Tennis players:

John McEnroe:

Novak Djokovic:

Cricketers:

Chris Gayle:

Yuvraj Singh:

Kevin Pietersen:

Basketball players:

LeBron James:

Michael Jordan:

Golfers:

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy:

Athletes:

Usain Bolt:

Also Read: Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Ritesh Deshmukh take up the #ALSIceBucketChallenge