Tiger Woods -- "The most famous athlete on the planet?"

Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote Sunday that Tiger Woods is "the most famous athlete on the planet."

There can be no correct answer to this. I would suggest that several soccer players, including David Beckham, might be the most famous athlete on the planet.

Here is a link to the story or column (from the Internet, it was unclear which it was) on a niece of Woods who is a top junior golfer where Kroichick makes that claim: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/03/SPG8TKUMNQ1.DTL

 

Ali, Jordan, Woods.

 

I would think Beckham would have to be included in this. Maybe even Zidane after the head butt.

 

How about among active athletes? I think that's what Kroichick meant.

 

Woods, Beckham and Yao Ming would be my top three.

 

Ronaldinho is also extremely popular.

 

Michael Schumacher?

 

If we're talking all time, I would expect Pele dwarfs Woods in terms of recognition.

If we're talking right now, it almost has to be a soccer player. Ronaldihno, Beckham, Henry and Zidane jump out.

 

I AGREE.

 

Like I said it's Ali, Jordan, and Woods.

 

How is there even 10 posts on this thread and no mention of Shaquille O'Neal?

 

Pele, Maradona, Cruyff...these are athletes which people weep in front of if they meet them.

Woods plays golf. It does not have the emotional impact soccer has.