Another vote for a footballer.
In 2001 I was backpacking around China, and was in a tiny village in the mountains that was mostly ethnically Tibetan. It didn't have tarmaced roads, people washed their clothes in the river, and there was only a couple of TVs in the village.
But I still saw a kid wearing a 'Beckham' shirt. When he clocked the white people he excitedly shouted 'Beckham! Owen!' at us, which seemed to be his only English words.
Later that week I ended up playing football with a group of monks (robes for goalposts!) and one of them, intriguingly, had a Marseille FC shirt on under his robe.
So even at that early stage, footballers were still international megastars, way before social media, in a heavily censored country where even if you could find an internet cafe, you couldn't view BBC news online.
In the informal settlements I saw in Dar es Salaam, there were "football cafes" named after particular teams where you could pay and watch matches on a TV under shade (old advertising banners and hoardings). Presumably they sold drinks too. This was one of the most basic businesses being run. The penetration of football - which is cheap, engaging and doesn't require translation or literacy to enjoy - is huge.
Cricket is inconceivably massive in India and ****stan too, true - but it doesn't have the reach of football (yet?).
Dalai lama
Why would we care? Beckham or Rolando - yes globally 'famous', but have they used that fame in any significant way other than getting rich(er)?
Most globally "meaningfully" influential maybe a worthwhile discussion. The meaningful is important in that statement imo - influencer levels of meaningful is mostly actually meaningless. I'm talking about people who have changed global policy on the big stuff, made political decisions that impact beyond their nation or even generation. People who have opened the world's eyes to stuff which have changed the way we live. People who have made the globe's population live in 'meaningful' levels of fear and made lives 'meaningfully' worse. Or I guess have invented or at least brought to market things (products, drugs, weapons even) that have had a profound impact on the way we live.
I honestly don't believe anyone in europe would never have heard of Lionel Messi.
However worldwide I'd say Trump, Putin, with Barack Obama going down the charts - he is very well known in Africa if not Asia. Modi in India and SE Asia, but not so much elsewhere.
Messi , then Ronaldo.
I think a lot of people are over-indexing on Important People rather than whoever is famous. I don't think Trump is as big a figure internationally as some people might think.
Obama has been out of power for 8 years. 40% of the population of Africa is under 25: none of them had finished secondary school when Obama left.
I doubt there's an overwhelming e number of Europeans that know who Modi is. The vast majority of UK people didn't know who their own PM was a few years ago.
https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/8317
I honestly don’t believe anyone in europe would never have heard of Lionel Messi.
I didn’t until today and didn’t know his forename was Lionel until your post! I can guarantee my wife won’t know who he is either.
Most globally “meaningfully” influential maybe a worthwhile discussion.
That would be a very short list. I can’t think of anyone who has done that amount of good who would be known globally. I’m struggling with the former, let alone the latter. Given the various global outlooks in different regions, one persons positive and meaningful is the next persons negative.
That would be a very short list. I can’t think of anyone who has done that amount of good who would be known globally. I’m struggling with the former, let alone the latter. Given the various global outlooks in different regions, one persons positive and meaningful is the next persons negative.
I never said anything about them being known. My argument is that 'globally known' is way way less important than the influence their life has had on the globe. I also never said that what they have influenced is positive.
The Premier League airs in 188 countries – and is viewed by 3.2 billion people.
So Mark Clattenburg then?
I never said anything about them being known. My argument is that ‘globally known’ is way way less important than the influence their life has had on the globe. I also never said that what they have influenced is positive.
Then you’re in the wrong thread or need to start another one!
I can’t think of anyone who has done that amount of good who would be known globally.
Bill and Melinda Gates. There are millions of women in Africa who are alive or alive longer or alive healthier because of what they've done. He's giving billions away and solving huge problems. And what's he known online for? A mad conspiracy theory.
Shirley The Beatles are known all over the world, young and old, so Macca (Paul McCartney) wins this at a canter aged ~85?
Tom. From Myspace. Surely...
With only 1 universal religion in the most-populus country in the world cricket, I'd reckon that Sachin Tendulkar could be up there more than westerners would ever believe.
Although they might not know the name, they will know that it is of course Buzz Aldrin from possibly the most famous photo in history. The guy who took it is no longer here, sadly. Buzz is 94.
A US president would be a good shout but:
Biden is forgettable, the US hasn't done much abroad since the last Gulf War and Afghanistan so I doubt a lot of the world could pick him out.
Trump, probably, I don't know how much media attention he gets outside the English speaking / Western world though?
Obama, it was 8 years ago, so that's a big chunk of the growing world population who are under 20 and either too young to care or not born at the time.
As for Xi or Modi, maybe, but would you recognize them in normal clothes?
Putin, Russia has influence everywhere. China, India, the West. And I presume African news covers Russia as a result of Wagner's work. The only place outside their influence is South America, and even then that's only I don't know. Do they still have links as a result of former socialist/communist governments?
That does all assume though that the average person cares more about foreign politics than they do about the lyrics to Shake it off.
Facebook has 3 billion monthly users, I’d wager 1 or two more less regular ones, so reckon Zuck is up there.
I doubt there’s an overwhelming number of Europeans that know who Modi is.
Doesn't really matter, Modi is known to Indians, who make up about 17% of the global population. He's also a major player in several large countries in that part of the world, and known across Europe/US/etc
The most famous living person is either going to be an internationally recognised politician/celebrity from India or China (35% of the global population between them) or an International Sportsperson. Probably football, but maybe Cricket.
Anecdotally I’d say it’s absolutely a gender-specific interest though. I know some women who are into it, but they are a considerable minority.
I briefly dated someone who knew who ALL the big name footballers were, because of who they were dating and what fashion houses/brands they represented. She *hated* football. (Similar story for Golf, F1, Cricket and a couple of other sports). Fashion and Style was her thing, and her job.
Patrick Stewart
Modi is known to Indians, who make up about 17% of the global population.
Yeah, that's true. I suppose it's either going to be someone that 80% of China or India knows OR someone that's recognised by 20% of people everywhere. But there is no-one that is universally known in China and India.
Putin, Russia has influence everywhere. China, India, the West.
This is totally overstating Russian influence. The former Wagner's adventures in CAR and Sudan are worrying, but they're not even the main players there and they are not hugely influential countries even within Africa - which is exactly why Russia is sticking its nose in. Russia is less influential in Africa than Turkey and the UAE. Putin wouldn't even get 10% recognition in CAR - only 17% of people have electricity, 31% have a phone, 40% of them are under 15.
Equally, Putin is not influential in China and India. He is dependent on them. Chinese tech and industry is steamrolling the Russian economy. India is making money from refining and reselling (laundering) cheap Russian oil - but if it all disappeared tomorrow the impact on India would be low.
I wonder if Tom Cruise would be in with a shout as a Top 10 recognisable face? His films are rubbish but have been around forever and very popular in China and India, I thought...?
More generally this whole thread is an interesting exercise of how difficult people find it to step inside the head of other people who are less interested in politics or sport or aren't Anglophones.
You ask 20 English kids on the street and I wonder how many of them would know The Beatles, let alone a Nicaraguan or Vietnamese 15 year old!
Ronnie Pickering?
Ronnie Pickering?
Not known in China or India, so he's out of the running...
Not known in China or India, so he’s out of the running…
I doubt Ronnie Pickering thinks that though. I can just picture him bellowing at people on the Great Wall.
Has anyone said the Pope yet?
I honestly don’t believe anyone in europe would never have heard of Lionel Messi.
raises hand
If "who is Lionel Messi" cropped up in a pub quiz I'd probably have guessed a Formula 1 driver.
If “who is Lionel Messi” cropped up in a pub quiz I’d probably have guessed a Formula 1 driver.
I genuinely struggle to believe a man who has an opinion on pretty much ever subject under the sun doesn’t know who Messi is!😜
I asked my 76 year old mum if she knew who he was. She said ‘he’s a footballer, doesn’t he play for a French team?’ So bonus points for the addition detail, but marks off as she said she wouldn’t be able to recognise him from a picture
Dan Dare
(IYKYK)
Hello! (that was my first thought, sadly enough. On which individual is most globally recognised, I make the average high court judge look down with the kids on the street and have zero interest in football possibly less (which being from Leeds is a blessing), but think you're going to have to try quite hard not to know anything about Lionel Messi. As to who's most famous, I asked a wise AI:
Considering the criteria of global awareness as individuals (rather than by their titles or jobs) and their cross-generational appeal, here's how Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and Bill Gates might rank among the previously mentioned individuals:
Cristiano Ronaldo: Due to his active presence in sports and social media, appealing to a wide age range.
Michael Jackson: His lasting impact on music and pop culture makes him recognizable across generations.
Donald Trump: His tenure as President of the United States and significant media presence make him a highly recognizable figure globally.
Elvis Presley: Enduring legacy in music and culture.
Barack Obama: Former U.S. President with substantial global influence and continued presence in public discourse.
Bill Gates: Known for his role in technology as the founder of Microsoft and his extensive philanthropic work.
Oprah Winfrey: Widely recognized for her media influence and philanthropic efforts.
Elon Musk: Known for his innovative work in technology and space, with a strong media presence.
Queen Elizabeth II: Recognized globally due to her long reign and significant historical presence.
Muhammad Ali: Remembered for his contributions to sports and his cultural impact.This ranking places Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk in the middle tier, reflecting their significant influence and global recognition, but they might not surpass the most enduring cultural icons or the current highest-profile individuals like Cristiano Ronaldo.
so yep, it's Ronaldo, though I think more for that statue personally 
I know the names Ronaldo and Messi, and am aware that they play football but that's it. I have no idea which team/country they play for, what their first names are (obviously I know Messi's is Lionel now because someone said it above) and wouldn't recognise a photo of either of them.
Someone up there said Sachin Tendulka, I have zero interest in cricket either but I at least know both his names and which country he plays for, although also wouldn't recognise a photo.
PCA was saying about how, for instance Putin, has little influence in large parts of the world. I don't disagree with that but surely he would at least get a mention on every national news outlet from time to time? The North Korean coverage of him might take a different angle to the Australian for instance but there'd still be stories about him. Would the Uruguayan media mention Tendulka? Would the Malaysian press cover Messi? Probably not, but surely they both mention Putin or Xi or Trump from time to time?
Actor? Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Al Pacino, Harrison Ford etc?
I’m going back to Jackie Chan. Well known in China, Africa, India and the western world. I reckon most people know who he is.
Putin, has little influence in large parts of the world. I don’t disagree with that but surely he would at least get a mention on every national news outlet from time to time?
Possibly - but being on telly from time to time doesn't make you famous. Especially if the TV news is incredibly boring and just repeats press releases of the government or the owners. And it's in a language you don't speak. And you don't have a TV. And you're under 20, like 33% of the world's population is!
but being on telly from time to time doesn’t make you famous
Name a famous person who isn't in the telly from time to time? And I think he's famous for more than just being on the telly - national leader for quite a large country who tend to do things their own way, human rights infringements, a tendancy to get his FSB mates to murder people he's not keen on on foreign soil, definitely isn't linked to planes falling out the sky that happen to contain an outspoken critic of his rule, being a psycho with his finger on the nuke button, anti-Western and oh, he invaded a country and started a war in the last 2 years. He's reasonably famous for all the wrong reasons...
I genuinely struggle to believe a man who has an opinion on pretty much ever subject under the sun doesn’t know who Messi is!😜
Whilst I'd like to think that I have a fairly broad range of experiences, I abhor football and have little interest in spectator sports generally.
If I do watch sport it'll be something that's a bit different from the same-old. I watched (and played two-touch) American Football at high school, then the novelty wore off and today I just make a point of watching the Superbowl. I followed Manchester Storm ice hockey team for a couple of years until, again, the novelty wore off.
I had a crush on Lionel Messi when he had long hair, and I'm not even gay. Nor a football fan.
Stewart Lee
Name a famous person who isn’t in the telly from time to time?
Name everyone who's on the telly from time to time... But anyway you're missing the point - practically no-one in the world sits down and watches the Big Evening News On Telly.
And I think he’s famous for more than just being on the telly [long list of factoids about Putin]
Sure - those things are all things that are the kind of things that are noteworthy or interesting to you. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a big deal to some Europeans and Americans. The more educated and literate and wealthy you are, the more you're interested in it. But put yourself in the position of someone in the middle of Guyana or DR Congo or ****stan or Vietnam...or even a fairly disengaged British person. A third of Brits don't have the slightest clue when WW2 took place. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/winston-churchill-prime-minister-world-war-b2287141.html
Could you name the President of the DRC (population 100m, had a new war start pretty much on the same day as the Feb 2022 invasion of Ukraine)? Could you pick Abu Mazen out of a lineup (his country has been in the news a lot)? Who even is the top guy in Afghanistan or ****stan now? They've all had news stories or events in the last couple of years.
Mr Beast.
