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[EPaul]

Brian Lara

 

[Dead Man Typing]

Probably Tiger Woods globally.

Although I want to say it's Hulk Hogan, but he was the first famous sports star I'd ever heard of.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

Probably Pele given futbol's global popularity

 

[figadapaura]

Whole world? Probably David Beckham.

 

[Shanks D Zoro]

Francesco Totti

 

[Tambini]

I think Pele

 

[Acorn]

+ sex = ?

>.>

He did bang hookers or porn stars so probably.

 

[m_shortpants]

Either Mohammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Roger Federer, or David Bechkam/Pele?

 

[Data West]

Hulk Hogan, hands down

Andre was more popular globally.

 

[UraMallas]

ITT: American's who don't understand that nobody outside watches their sports

People outside of the US know Michael Jordan because of Space Jam. If they know him at all

Spoiler

Yes, I am exaggerating.

ITT: The tried and true 'ignorant Americans' routine predictably plays out.

 

[Deleted member 47027]

Andre was more popular globally.

But Andre died, your popularity tapers off after a handful of years

 

[Epsilon-delta]

In America i would say Micheal Jordan.

What you talking about? When I was stationed in Spain, every Spaniard I talked to knew who Michael Jordan is.

Ask a kid in rural America who is Messi or Ronaldo and they probably couldn't tell you.

 

[Moze]

ITT: American's who don't understand that nobody outside watches their sports

People outside of the US know Michael Jordan because of Space Jam. If they know him at all

Spoiler

Yes, I am exaggerating.

You are 100% correct. i would bet good money Jordan could walk European streets without being recognised.

What you talking about? When I was stationed in Spain, every Spaniard I talked to knew who Michael Jordan is.

Ask a kid in rural America who is Messi or Ronaldo and they probably couldn't tell you.

They know of him. That is about it.

 

[Rorschach]

Damn. Did not expect all the Maradona disrespect.

 

[Acorn]

But Andre died, your popularity tapers off after a handful of years

Austin>hogan

 

[Mr.Swag]

Michael Jordan has some of the most famous shoes in the world named after him

 

[Shanks D Zoro]

Damn. Did not expect all the Maradona disrespect.

Maradona is a fat little tax dodging coke head.

 

[Data West]

But Andre died, your popularity tapers off after a handful of years

 

[Hollycat]

Michael Jordan for sure.

 

[DancingCactus77]

Michael Schumacher.

 

[t-storm]

Gretzky

 

[tchocky]

What you talking about? When I was stationed in Spain, every Spaniard I talked to knew who Michael Jordan is.

Ask a kid in rural America who is Messi or Ronaldo and they probably couldn't tell you.

Well Spain loves basketball and Jordan because of the 92 Olympics in Barcelona, other countries not so much.

 

[Shanks D Zoro]

Michael Jordan has some of the most famous shoes in the world named after him

He is Jimmy Choo?

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

lol no one outside America knows the first two dudes. Same for Michael Jordan. No one.

Muhammed Ali might be the one though.

Babe Ruth was almost Charlie Chaplin huge.

 

[terrisus]

ITT: Americans who don't understand that nobody outside watches their sports

ITT: The tried and true 'ignorant Americans' routine predictably plays out.

While the first post is a bit of hyperbole, it's still pretty accurate.

There are a number of posts in this thread that are hilarious that people would think could even possibly be close to the correct answer on a global scale.

 

[Kopite]

Jordan or Tyson. I'm not American and have never watched more than 5 mins of basketball and boxing but I know these two from my childhood. I didnt even know any soccer legends then and that's my favourite sport.

Edit: I wouldn't recognise Jordan anywhere though.

 

[John Kowalski]

is Michael Jordan that baseball guy? why was he casted for a basketball movie?

 

[Turin]

Probably Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.

 

[Epsilon-delta]

They know of him. That is about it.

Which is the definition of famous: to be known or recognized by many people.

 

[BigJonsson]

Muhammad Ali

 

[Moze]

is Michael Jordan that baseball guy? why was he casted for a basketball movie?

That's pretty much what people outside America think. They recognise the name and know he is a legend within sport, but they don't know enough about him to even know what sport he played. Baseball and Basketball are the same to people in the UK.

Did Jordan actually play baseball? I think i remember reading something about him trying and failing at becoming a professional baseball player.

Which is the definition of famous: to be known or recognized by many people.

He wouldn't be recognised in person. He is famous in the same way Stan Smith is.

 

[Loofy]

I would also go with Tiger Woods.

 

[UraMallas]

While the first post is a bit of hyperbole, it's still pretty accurate.

There are a number of posts in this thread that are hilarious that people would think could even possibly be close to the correct answer on a global scale.

Perspective works both ways. This board is made up of a lot of Americans at this time of the day on a weekend. It's only natural you'll see more people giving US-centric answers. Saying 'Americans shouldn't think in terms of America' is ironically simple. Speaking emphatically, it's hard to not think in terms of the US when such an overwhelming culture is thrust upon us from the immovable object that is our mass media conglomerate. That's not to say we shouldn't try to be more wordly, of course.

 

[Zoned]

No one knows MJ outside NA. Go to Asia, and barely anyone knows him. Has to be a soccer player. Most likely Pele. Right now, it is Messi or CR7.

 

[cafemomo]

Diego Maradona the most famous sports person of all time imo.

I agree.

He's also better than Pele

I don't know why people still try to refute that fact

 

[Jazzy Network]

Lance Armstrong

 

[Jarmel]

It's probably some footballer. In the US, it's easily Michael Jordan.

 

[Shadow780]

No one knows MJ outside NA. Go to Asia, and barely anyone knows him. Has to be a soccer player. Most likely Pele. Right now, it is Messi or CR7.

Pretty sure China knows about Jordan, first time their TV stations imported NBA was during the Jordan era. Also why they love poor man's Jordan so much ala Kobe too.

 

[MC Safety]

"Marvelous" Marv Throneberry.

 

[Zoned]

What you talking about? When I was stationed in Spain, every Spaniard I talked to knew who Michael Jordan is.

Ask a kid in rural America who is Messi or Ronaldo and they probably couldn't tell you.

Spain is a tiny part of this world. Don't forget about Asia or other EU nations where barely anyone plays or even knows about Basketball.

Soccer is a world sport.

 

[theignoramus]

lol no one outside America knows the first two dudes. Same for Michael Jordan. No one.

Muhammed Ali might be the one though.

You're flat out wrong about that. Dude's name has massive cache in Europe and Asia

 

[survivor]

Assuming kids worldwide still keep up with their soccer history then Pele or Maradona is probably correct answer. Otherwise Ronaldo or Messi.

 

[speculawyer]

Interested to see answers.

Diego Maradona the most famous sports person of all time imo.

Is that Dora the Explorer's friend?

 

[Cormano]

Maradona / Pele
Michael Jordan

 

[Sobriquet]

Mick Hucknall

 

[t26]

Spain is a tiny part of this world. Don't forget about Asia or other EU nations where barely anyone plays or even knows about Basketball.

Soccer is a world sport.

People don't have to follow basketball to know who Jordan is.

 

[JDSN]

Pele duh.

 

[Ezalc]

Interested to see answers.

Diego Maradona the most famous sports person of all time imo.

Good try OP, you got the sport right but the player wrong. It's Pele, bro.

 

[Lebron]

Jordan. Literally everyone knows him and his brand is still selling strong worldwide


After him, probably Pele.

 

[vas_a_morir]

Ali. He was the most famous person on the planet at one time, in an international sport.