PARIS — The death of Muhammed Ali is that rare global moment when the world is not only talking about the same topic, but largely saying the same thing.
The 74-year-old boxing legend transcended differences without ever flinching from life’s toughest questions. He was the Greatest, and also good; a fighter hailed for his intelligence who displayed his greatest courage outside the ring. Speaking to the the BBC, Ali’s younger brother Rahman Ali recalled the champion’s kindness and goodness, but also put a measure on his fame: “There was nobody on this Earth more famous than Muhammad Ali, he was known in every country.”
Here is a look at 31 Sunday newspapers from 23 different nations to offer a taste of that singular planetary status, from Australia to Saudi Arabia and Sweden, from Paris and Caracas to Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky:
Australia
Japan
(Asahi Shimbun)
India
(Aajkaal)
United Arab Emirates
Iran
The daily Shargh has a small recent photo of Ali in tuxedo on the upper left. One of the human rights causes in his final year was the Muslim boxing legend calling on Tehran to release imprisoned Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.
Saudi Arabia
(Asharq al Awsat)
Egypt
Al Ahram features a photo of Ali in the 1960s with Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser
South Africa
The Johannesburg-based Sunday Times was sure to include a famous photo of a mustachioed Ali with Nelson Mandela
Spain
Germany
Denmark
France
Italy
Italy’s largest sports daily featured the iconic photo of knocked-out Sonny Liston, and Ali’s most famous poem translated in Italian as “Danza” (dance) like a butterfly..
UK
Sweden
Turkey
Canada
U.S.
Here’s the front page from the top daily in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky
Argentina
Brazil
Ecuador
Mexico
The Mexico City daily La Jornada featured a photo of Ali with Fidel Castro
Venezuela
