Forbs has it as Beckham. Makes sense cause soccer's the most popular sport, and he's the only soccer player that I as an American could pick out in a photo line up. While Americans only make up a small part of the equation, when you add us to the rest of the world, it's got to be Beckham. Even my wife that doesn't watch sports at all knows who he is.
Maybe not even top 50
Combine that it's popularity is mainly in the u.s with the fact that all the players where helmets during the game and you have some unrecognizable athletes. I would be willing to bet that even your average american wouldn't even recognize a guy that was on his fantasy team if he passed him on the street.
If we are talking about most recognizable by anyone, that means non sport fans and women included, Tiger is easily the most recognizable. Most women and non sport fans don't even know who Guys like Messi or Ronaldo even are let alone be able to recognize them. But everyone knows and recognizes Tiger and Tiger has played all over the world.
I'm not a big soccer fan but have heard about guys like Ronaldo and Messi, but to be honest I doubt I would recognize either one if I saw them by chance somewhere. Tiger has been in the spotlight since he was about 3 years old! He is without a doubt the most recognizable in the US, and the fact he has played all over the World, I have to believe he is pretty well known everywhere else too.
