If Ali was at his prime today, he would be bigger than Tiger, Kobe, or Lebron

[COYS]

Yea but he has Messi to compete with who is the greatest athlete in the world

messi...greatest footballer, yes.... greatest athlete, no

[Pirao]

messi...greatest footballer, yes.... greatest athlete, no

Football=most popular sport with the largest talent pool in the world, and Messi is the best at it.

Who is the greatest athlete according to you?

[RainMatic]

Course Ali would. Kobe and lebron arnt even that big now, only in America and in basketball circles.

[Giovanni18]

this is true...he wouldn't have the draft issue to deal with but maybe he would still say "No Taliban ever called me ni*ger!"

[Boxin']

Yea but he has Messi to compete with who is the greatest athlete in the world

lol, Tiger Woods are Roger Federer are better.

Lionel Messi scores 4 goals against Arsenal's **** defence and he's suddenly the GOAT`?

[Calilloyd]

America is not the world....he would be huge in the states but not as big and marketable as Tiger Woods around the world.....Woods has influence all over the world and there is a reason that a GOLFER makes WAY more money then any other athelte.

Plus Ali was mostly recognized after he retired instead of during his carreer like todays athletes

You've got to be kidding. Tiger Woods gets paid a lot of money from endorsements, not golf. What other golfers are making more money than any other athletes? And Ali was recognized all over the world during his career, not just after. When he fought Leon Spinks in the rematch take a look at the celebrities in his dressing room to support him. From John Travolta to Johnny Cash. Elvis Pressley and even the Kennedy's were big Ali fans. Elvis Pressley had a 15,000 custom made rhine stone robe sent to Ali as a gift. Ali was invited to Russia as Russian president Brezhnev's guest. During his career. Nobody athlete today generates the Universal and international attention Ali did. You don't know what you're talking about.

[zeidrich]

your avatar shows why your post cant be taken seriously

seriously, you judge a post by its avatar??

[Junito-Rulez]

No, nowadays Ali would just be a superior HW version of Floyd. Hated by all BUT respected by all too.

Ali wouldn't have a cause to defend, nowadays. Back in the days he was defending black people, protested against Vietnam war, poverty and representing his ****** faith.

Nowadays people don't have enough balls to support causes like that, we're just brainwashed zombies. Listen to the singers. Back in the days, u had Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, the beatles. Now we have Lady GaGa,..

[Pacquiao'd]

seriously, you judge a post by its avatar??

yes, b.c your avatar is pure clownery and no one listens to clowns

[fight_professor]

Yes, no doubt. Ali was a great athlete-there are plenty of them, but he was also a great personality. Most sports folk are boring. He sang, wrote poetry, stood my his beliefs, made people laugh and cry and helped a race stand up in tough political times.