Muhammad Ali

About Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) remains a monumental figure, ranking #87 globally in the Historical Popularity Index by MIT’s Pantheon project. Beyond his revolutionary impact on boxing, where he became an undisputed heavyweight champion, Ali profoundly influenced global culture and civil rights. His conversion to Islam, his principled refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War on religious grounds, and his public advocacy for racial equality cemented his status as one of the most consequential and recognized public figures of the 20th century.

The internet's attention in 2025, however, suggests a partial fading of his modern relevance. Ali accumulated 4.3 million Wikipedia views last year, which, relative to his historical importance (HPI #87), translates to an overattention factor of +7x compared to the average figure. This means his modern attention is seven times what might be expected based on his cultural gravity. For context, this is significantly less attention than modern contemporaries like Joe Biden (10.6M views) or Elon Musk (25.2M views), who hold lower historical importance rankings.

Furthermore, the trajectory of this attention indicates a decline in current online interest. His Wikipedia views dropped by 26.8% year-over-year, and his 2025 momentum, comparing Q1 to Q3 performance, shows a further -17% dip. This suggests that while Ali is still recognized significantly more than figures of comparable historical weight, the raw volume of digital engagement is trending downward compared to recent years.