[FacZap]

Lionel Messi might be the biggest sport star in history. It's amazing what this man does for people.

[racl101]

True that. He's likeable too. That helps a lot.

Although I think the honor still goes Jordan.

[EstesPark]

Jordan is not a larger global star than Messi. If that isn't what you were claiming, apologies.

[criddell]

Muhammad Ali was pretty big too.

[EstesPark]

Of course, but not larger than Messi on a global scale - it's not even close.

[criddell]

In absolute numbers, sure. But for his biggest fights, up to two billion people would watch Muhammad Ali fight. As a percentage, today that would be more than three billion people.