Who Is The World's Most Recognizable Athlete?

Saw this photo over at TBJ, of Kobe Bryant making an appearance on his annual Nike tour of China, and it's no surprise. China loves Kobe. Loves That's a billion people who go nuts at the very sight of Bryant, a global superstar for 15 years now. It got me thinking: who's the most recognizable athlete in the world?
I mean that in the most literal sense: which athlete (active athlete, otherwise it would probably still be Jordan), walking down the street in Bogota or Mombasa or Kolkata would be recognized by the most people? It'd likely be someone from the only two true international sports—basketball and soccer—and it would have to be someone who's an advertising icon, because billboards exist even where satellite TV doesn't.
If forced, I'd narrow it down to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, David Beckham, and Lionel Messi, and at gunpoint I'd pick Beckham. Argue over your picks below.


- Wednesday October 8th Best MLB Playoff Betting Picks & Predictions
- MLB Playoff Game 3 Best Bets: Mariners vs Tigers, Blue Jays vs Yankees
- College Football Midweek Picks: Week 7 NCAA Best Bets
- Chiefs vs. Bills Jaguars Monday Night Football Week 5 Betting Predictions
- MLB Playoff Game 2 Best Bets: Dodgers vs Phillies, Cubs vs Brewers
- NFL Week 5 Best Bets: Colts, Jets, and Lions Picks Against the Spread
- MLB Playoff Game 2 Best Bets: Yankees vs Blue Jays, Tigers vs Mariners
