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Sport has gone global and some of the most familiar faces on the planet today are athletes.With huge pay packets and glamorous lifestyles, being an athlete can change one’s life dramatically. Let us take a look at the top 5 most popular sports personalities in the world.
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world by a mile and no wonder the most famous sports personality on the globe plies his trade in the sport. David Beckham remains the most familiar soccer player and sports personality in the world. Beckham started his career in Manchester United after rising through the ranks from the academy. After playing for a host of top clubs ranging from Real Madrid to AC Milan and LA Galaxy, the former England captain now plies his trade in Paris with PSG. His best years are surely behind him now but that apparently has had no effect on his popularity and earning power.
Tiger Woods has been the poster boy for golf for nearly 1 and a half decades, which has made him one of the most famous athletes in the world. With 77 career wins and 14 majors to his name, Tiger remains a dominant force in the world of golf. Even though his game has suffered a little after his Thanksgiving 2009 accident and ensuing sex scandal that led to the breakup of his marriage, the current world number one still remains the most bankable golf player on the planet. He endorses a wide range of brands ranging from Nike to EA Sports and rakes in millions of dollars on and off the golf course.
Kobe Bryant’s name cannot be ignored when the subject of popular sportsmen comes up. He is the youngest player to reach 30,000 points in the NBA and a 15-time All Star. After bursting into fame in his rookie season in 1997, Bryant has always made headlines on and off the court. He has led the Lakers to 5 NBA championships and powered Team USA to top honors at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic games. He also remains the centerpiece of the Lakers franchise.
Usain Bolt is the fastest sprinter the world has ever seen and currently holds world records for both 100m and 200m, the only man to have ever done so at the same time. Winner of tons of athletic and mainstream sport awards, his soaring reputation doesn’t seem like coming to a halt anytime soon. The Jamaican sprinter has been hailed as the most disciplined athlete the world has ever seen.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is an undefeated professional American boxer who has fought and won against some of the biggest boxers in the world. Rated as the number one pound for pound boxer in the world by the most reputable boxing channels and websites on the planet, Pretty Boy remains a hugely influential figure in global sports. Even a short stint in jail did not have any recognizable impact on his fitness. Apart from his huge popularity and peculiar boxing style, Mayweather was rated the highest earning athlete in the world by Forbes and Sports Illustrated in 2012.
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