Im sure for some reason that in the late 80s it was Michael Jackson. Would that have changed already? I cant think of anyone with as much global success. A lot f the world do follow football though, maybe Pele or Becks or Maradonna. I think Becks might puch it out of three cos even the papers in America have been running stories about him being the most famous sportsman in the world but we dont have a clue who he is stories for years. His face will be on everything soon.