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re: Who's more famous at their peak Michael Jordan or Lionel Messi?
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:36 pm to Barbellthor
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:36 pm to Barbellthor
quote:
Music is universal.
Um... Michael Jordan
1
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:36 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:
Jordan was perhaps the biggest athlete of all time.
This.
People that weren’t alive then don’t understand how big both Jordan (athlete) and Michael Jackson (musician) were worldwide.
Jordan is still famous today from something he did 30+ years ago
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:37 pm to Gifman
quote:
Jordan. He was more popular in Asia. There are a lot of Asians.
That's a fair point to debate. Everybody just assumes that the entire world is obsessed with soccer, but that's not entirely true. Europe is for sure. Same with most of South America and some of the other places American tourists visit. But 60% of the global population lives in China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, etc. and soccer isn't near as big there. Hell, indoor plumbing isn't big in parts of these places.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:38 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
Michael Jordan
Probably Messi then since the other countries play more soccer.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:43 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
I'm 46... soccer dominates this worldwide. It's Messi and it's not even remotely close. The fact that Jordan is even in the discussion is a testament to his massive appeal.. but still not close.
You’re almost making my point - at 46, you were like 8 when Jordan started his climb…..and like 25 when Messi even started his true (non-U20,23) pro career.
Had Jordan been been in this era of basketball, based on what we know about the league as it is, and his ability, would be averaging 35/ game easy!!! And with very little league defense, probably winning even more rings.
Jordan had his own shoe, then own BRAND…and would be in the millions of followed social media platforms.
Thus, if they’re both on equal footing in a timeline, they’d be kings of their sports and even though “football”/soccer is the world’s leading revenue producer …. Guess which one is on its tail and IMO, will catch up in the next decade….yes…NBA.
So the “not even close” argument is skewed by time…. Not greatness
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:53 pm to FlyingTigerBo
Better question is Jordan or Pele. Messi is more popular because of the internet and social media. Most Americans can at least recognize his name. That wouldn't have been true if he played in the 90s. With that said, Jordan had a bigger impact on basketball than Messi for soccer.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:55 pm to JohnnyKilroy
quote:
Wait you think this is peak Messi? The guy is almost 40 and currently plays in the MLS
Is it peak physical Messi? No. But skill wise, there is an argument to be made that he’s better than ever. He’s scored more goals in this World Cup than he has in any other World Cup, and that was before the semi final game.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:56 pm to Ron McKelvey
Ronaldo is probably more famous than Messi.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 8:56 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
60 million air JORDANS are sold every year still. Every. Single. Year
How is this a question?
How is this a question?
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:05 pm to Ron McKelvey
quote:
Ronaldo is probably more famous than Messi.
this is a big point.
yes soccer is massive worldwide.
but because of that, their is also a Ronaldo.
he’s splitting votes with Messi.
Jordan WAS basketball.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:19 pm to SUB
quote:
Is it peak physical Messi? No. But skill wise, there is an argument to be made that he’s better than ever. He’s scored more goals in this World Cup than he has in any other World Cup, and that was before the semi final game.
I mean peak as in when he was the biggest star at Barca and winning a shite load of trophies in one of the premier European leagues going head to head with his biggest rival in Ronaldo (who might be arguably more popular than both Jordan and Messi lol).
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:20 pm to FlyingTigerBo
Probably hundreds of millions of third world people who know soccer stars and no other sports so that kinda tips the scales
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:21 pm to Juan Betanzos
quote:
Those saying Messi…. Please reply and post your age.
I’m 42.
Messi is a ton bigger than Jordan for two reasons:
1. The sport. Ain’t nobody playing basketball in Europe, South America, Asia, or Africa at the rate they’re playing soccer. Not close. Not remotely close.
2. Social media
Jordan transformed the shoe industry and was the face of basketball and the dream team. Huge. Transcended the sport. Brought it to China and helped grow it in Europe and the world.
Messi is 3x him in terms of popularity.
Just look up videos in Bangladesh of thousands watching Argentina play at 4am in a barn, because of Messi. It’s wild man.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:23 pm to Alt26
quote:
Jordan was a great player. But what made him famous internationally was Nike, not necessarily his play on the court
That's a huge piece, the marketing. The posters, the various commercials (Is it the shoes?; Playing HORSE; Be Like Mike).
Messi may have endorsements and commercials but I don't recall ever seeing them. With MJ you didn't have to be watching basketball (or even sports) to see his ads.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:34 pm to FlyingTigerBo
quote:
Lionel Messi
Who?
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:50 pm to FlyingTigerBo
Mickey Mantle.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:58 pm to MDB
Let’s put this to bed
Total population of all of Europe and South America combined is 1.18 billion
China alone where Jordan was king is 1.4 billion
This answer is so easily MJ but I just wanted to highlight the above
Total population of all of Europe and South America combined is 1.18 billion
China alone where Jordan was king is 1.4 billion
This answer is so easily MJ but I just wanted to highlight the above
Posted on 7/16/26 at 10:01 pm to BamaCoaster
quote:Are they wearing shoes? Then they know MJ….They don’t need a basketball
Ain’t nobody playing basketball in Europe, South America, Asia, or Africa at the rate they’re playing soccer.
MJ completely transcended sports.
This post was edited on 7/16/26 at 10:02 pm
Posted on 7/16/26 at 10:03 pm to lsupride87
quote:
Are they wearing shoes?
Willing to bet most in Asia and Africa prob aren’t.
quote:
MJ completely transcended sports
I typed that exact same sentence in my post.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 10:04 pm to BamaCoaster
And Messi doesn’t. 60 million shoes, every single year, are sold that are called Air Jordan’s with his likeness on them
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