FortuneFaded
Member
How would you judge who is most famous? Would you ask people to name sports stars and see who is mentioned most, would you show a picture of them and ask them who they are? It seems like the method might impact the result.
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Who is the most famous sports person of all time?
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The 2 million was just attendance, nothing more.
When you take its population into account, then no, it's insignificant. 7 billion people and America only makes up 316 million people.
America obviously has a larger cultural influence, but then again the pull of football (read; not handegg) and European media is so great in the developing world that football is the most dominant sport by far. And therefore, it is likely that football players will be more well known than basketball players.
Sports that are very popular in the US, such as baseball, American football and basketball don't get nearly as much media coverage as football does, even in most other developed countries.
Jordan has been retired for what, 10 years? His name does not pop up in the news, people are much less likely to know about him than say Ronaldo, who has games every now and then.
Edit: I'd argue that Ali is more popular than Jordan too. His ailing health, as well as his legendary status is a notch above Jordan.
Since American athletes are discussed a lot in here, I think that here in Europe almost everybody knows Ali but Jordan isn't too far behind Ali either. I have never watched a complete match of Basketball in my life and I still know who Jordan is and about some of his greatest accomplishments. He is almost a synonym for Basketball to many.
But I kind of think some of the more recent or still active athletes are even more famous today. Ali and Jordan aren't in the media here anymore. I think it is quite possible that there are currently more people alive who know Ronaldo an Messi than Ali or Jordan. Since football is the most popular sports on earth (afaik) it's probably on of the former two.
Beckham is a good answer as well (even my type-check app just told me I misspelled Beckham), though. I think he was never as well regarded and popular because of his achievements as an athlete in Europe as Ronaldo or Messi, but he became iconic because of his celebrity marriage and modelling stuff. He's known even among people who never watch football as he is ever present in the media. And very importantly this is also true not only in Europe but also America.
Still think Ronaldo/Messi are the most likely answers, just because their time is now.
But I kind of think some of the more recent or still active athletes are even more famous today. Ali and Jordan aren't in the media here anymore. I think it is quite possible that there are currently more people alive who know Ronaldo an Messi than Ali or Jordan. Since football is the most popular sports on earth (afaik) it's probably on of the former two.
Beckham is a good answer as well (even my type-check app just told me I misspelled Beckham), though. I think he was never as well regarded and popular because of his achievements as an athlete in Europe as Ronaldo or Messi, but he became iconic because of his celebrity marriage and modelling stuff. He's known even among people who never watch football as he is ever present in the media. And very importantly this is also true not only in Europe but also America.
Still think Ronaldo/Messi are the most likely answers, just because their time is now.
This is such bullshit. No, he is not known for being the greatest footballer of all time.
Everybody knows Muhhamed Ali and a fair share know Babe Ruth.
If you showed me a picture of Babe Ruth I would not know him. He is not famous, other than that American TV shows namedrop him every now and then. He's an American sports star.
Ali is a worldwide celebrity.
FortuneFaded
Member
When someone says "Everybody knows *insert person*" it reminds me of this:http://youtu.be/zDTiVA7gcZo?t=50s
100 people are asked to name the planet based on its picture.
correctly identified Earth.
100 people are asked to name the planet based on its picture.
89
BlitzerRadic
Member
lol wtf?
Always-honest
Banned
Ali
Had to google your first two names. They're baseball players. It's fair to say almost nobody in Europe can even name a single baseball player. Baseball is totally a regional thing with little spread outside of North and Central America.
http://www.topendsports.com/world/lists/popular-sport/sports/baseball.htm
We're not talking about personal favourites here, we're talking about most famous. Jordan is fucking everywhere.
In the US. Not in other countries. He's not fucking everywhere, in fact I don't remember him on the news any time recently. Ronaldo on the other hand...
Basileus777
Member
There's something fundamentally wrong with that method when Japan ranks #39. The other lists show similarly bizarre results.
If by fair you mean less than 1% of the worldwide population, sure
Kiraly
Member
Most famous shoes in the world aka a small part of the western hemisphere lol
Scully Scully Scoo
Member
muhammad ali by a damn mile, he is known across practically every country. u americans are overestimating michael jordan popularity
Basileus777
Member
Hey, the United States is 4.4% of the world.
My bad, less than 1% of the rest of the world
Aeriscloud
Banned
Is Ronaldo the person with he penis gif, and the jews did this gif?
Oh, you were doing so well, now add China.
Oh, you were doing so well, now add China.
I believe this is the correct answer.
Masquerader
Member
Muhammad Ali, of course. So quick.
Bai gawd Mean Gene, WOO!
On the subject of wrestling, let's not kid ourselves: Hulk Hogan is WAY more well-known internationally than Stone Cold.
Bai gawd Mean Gene, WOO!
On the subject of wrestling, let's not kid ourselves: Hulk Hogan is WAY more well-known internationally than Stone Cold.
did jeezy creezy do any sports?
seriously though.
It's the shoes and space Jam that give him the edge over Ali.
Kids in Europe will know Jordan from the back of Nike AirJordans, they won't know Muhammad Ali from anything but "media about Muhammad Ali". Ask any Chinese or African kid about Ali and they'll be like "huh?", while they'll have probably hand-sewn an AirJordan themselves that day.
and lol @ any football (soccer) player other than Pele and Maradonna. We're talking "of all time" here. Messi and Ronaldo will be forgotten 10 years from now.
This has nothing to do with the overall popularity of the sport but about Michael Jordan being a brand of his own.
seriously though.
Michael Jordan
Kids in Europe will know Jordan from the back of Nike AirJordans, they won't know Muhammad Ali from anything but "media about Muhammad Ali". Ask any Chinese or African kid about Ali and they'll be like "huh?", while they'll have probably hand-sewn an AirJordan themselves that day.
and lol @ any football (soccer) player other than Pele and Maradonna. We're talking "of all time" here. Messi and Ronaldo will be forgotten 10 years from now.
This has nothing to do with the overall popularity of the sport but about Michael Jordan being a brand of his own.
veryslowhand
Banned
younger people doesnt know who the fuck is Ali.
Vigilant Walrus
Member
It must have been Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and new Ronaldo/Messi.
did jeezy creezy do any sports?
seriously though.It's the shoes and space Jam that give him the edge over Ali.Michael Jordan
Kids in Europe will know Jordan from the back of Nike AirJordans, they won't know Muhammad Ali from anything but "media about Muhammad Ali". Ask any Chinese or African kid about Ali and they'll be like "huh?", while they'll have probably hand-sewn an AirJordan themselves that day.
and lol @ any football (soccer) player other than Pele and Maradonna. We're talking "of all time" here. Messi and Ronaldo will be forgotten 10 years from now.
This has nothing to do with the overall popularity of the sport but about Michael Jordan being a brand of his own.
The bolded is laughable shite.
You're right. Japan being down there seems off. Sorry for posting it. I still believe that baseball is far too unpopular worldwide to even consider any baseball player as possibly "the most famous sports person of all time", though.
curlyfriski
Banned
I would guess Jordan because he transcends basketball. I'm sure there's studies on this though.
2 million was the attendance figures of matches for the year. And that was a record number.
Kotetsu534
Member
Heavily US centric discussion here given the low popularity of US sports in Europe and the developing world.
Should be Messi or Ronaldo. They are well known across all the developed world and most of the developing world. Popular among the young too, since they are current.
Muhammad Ali is up there, but I imagine a lot of the younger generation would not know too much about him. Limit the discussion to people over 50 and he might be #1. Culturally and politically more significant than almost any other sportsman, brought his charisma to the developing world for massive showdowns, was one of the absolute best at a hugely popular individual sport, and has and continues to suffer from debilitating illness. I remember well my dad telling me everything about who Ali was when he came on stage for some public event dishevelled and shaking.
Should be Messi or Ronaldo. They are well known across all the developed world and most of the developing world. Popular among the young too, since they are current.
Muhammad Ali is up there, but I imagine a lot of the younger generation would not know too much about him. Limit the discussion to people over 50 and he might be #1. Culturally and politically more significant than almost any other sportsman, brought his charisma to the developing world for massive showdowns, was one of the absolute best at a hugely popular individual sport, and has and continues to suffer from debilitating illness. I remember well my dad telling me everything about who Ali was when he came on stage for some public event dishevelled and shaking.
GTP_Daverytimes
Member
Pele/Maradona
Mike Tyson/Ali
(Maybe Lionel Messi)
I don't think anyone comes close to these guys, my grandmother knows 2 of them (Pele/Maradona)
EDIT: Forgot Ronaldo, (Shumacher is far more known in the west than the South or East)
Mike Tyson/Ali
(Maybe Lionel Messi)
I don't think anyone comes close to these guys, my grandmother knows 2 of them (Pele/Maradona)
EDIT: Forgot Ronaldo, (Shumacher is far more known in the west than the South or East)
I'm supposed to know who this guy is why?
As an American I've at least heard of all the soccer players mentioned, never heard of this guy in my life.
It's clearly Ali or Jordan
People act like everyone on the planet watches sports. Ali and Jordan have transcended sports. People probably know Jordan more so for a pair of sneakers than have ever watched him.
And the people ranting about the US and the insignifcance of soccer there surely you can't forget Canada also exists? I can't imagine it's popular there either.
People act like everyone on the planet watches sports. Ali and Jordan have transcended sports. People probably know Jordan more so for a pair of sneakers than have ever watched him.
And the people ranting about the US and the insignifcance of soccer there surely you can't forget Canada also exists? I can't imagine it's popular there either.
How so?
teruterubozu
Member
Tim Tebow
Rawket Lawnchair
Member
Jordan, Schumacher, Pele, Maradona, the name Ronaldo, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali.
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