[Other Sport] Who Is The Most Famous Sportsman In The World?

[GREASED WEASEL]

I feel it's probably a footballer,golfer,racing driver or boxer

here's my 6

Tiger Woods
Ayrton Senna
Michael Schumacher
Muhammad Ali
Pele
Usain Bolt

who's yours?

I'd go for Muhammad Ali

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Surely it’s Kobe Bryant?

 

[Dunk&Disorderly]

Cristiano Ronaldo/Michael Jordan

 

[BBassic]

Ali for me.

 

[Commander]

No mention for Beckham? There can't be many places you could go where they wouldn't know him, where as I don't think that could be said for all of the names on this list.

 

[stewart12]

No mention for Beckham? There can't be many places you could go where they wouldn't know him, where as I don't think that could be said for all of the names on this list.

I'd also go for Beckham

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

It's a generational thing shirley?

Tho both Muhammad Ali and Usain Bolt have transcended their sport - or ANY sport - and must be about the biggest non-Pope draw on the planet

 

[Diablo]

Who Is The Most Famous Sportsman In The World?

Ali and Senna are no longer in the world .

 

[jimhigham]

Toss up between Ali and Pele.

I was working at Heathrow in the mid 90s when Pele came through the immigration hall. I have never seen a reaction quite like it in what is supposed to be a fairly reserved space. Complete bedlam. The line compressed into a perfect circle around the great man, who took it all in his stride, beaming from ear to ear and shaking every hand. Class.

 

[crodonilson]

Tiger Woods, he pretty much is golf. The support he garners is phenomenal and the drop off in viewing figures when he doesn't play is mind boggling.

 

[blue-shifted]

Toss up between Ali and Pele.

I was working at Heathrow in the mid 90s when Pele came through the immigration hall. I have never seen a reaction quite like it in what is supposed to be a fairly reserved space. Complete bedlam. The line compressed into a perfect circle around the great man, who took it all in his stride, beaming from ear to ear and shaking every hand. Class.

That's one of the things that I like about Pele. He's not too cool for school about it. He blatantly loves being a hero to his millions of fans and doesn't have much better to do than to acknowledge them in the way you described.

That said, over the last 10 years, I'd say Bolt

 

[LlcoolJ]

A toss up between Michael Jordan and Barry Venison.

 

[The_Viper]

Pele, Ali or Bolt for me on that list. Add Michael Jordan, David Beckham and Davy Propper to that list.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Sachin Tendulkar

 

[Uh_huh_him]

You are obviously from the same generation as me.

Ali transcended his sport and was an icon recognised around the world.
Not sure that is still true, but it was the first name I thought of on seeing the thread

 

[Icy Gull]

In the 21st century? Probably Messi or Ronaldo but the correct answer is Ali who EVERYONE knew of in the days before the internet. You had to be pretty bloody special for that to happen back then

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Beckham

 

[nicko31]

Sachin Tendulkar

He'd be up there on simply because he's Indian

Ronaldo, Messi?

 

[Mackenzie]

Ruel Fox

 

[RossyG]

I’d have thought Ali was easily the best known out of those.

I’d imagine David Beckham is better known internationally than most of the rest.