Kobe Bryant's life and identity transcended basketball, and if that wasn't clear before Sunday, it became clear in abundance as the tributes from around the world poured in following the tragic helicopter crash that took his life, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna's and the lives of seven others.
Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers all-time great, was remembered across all walks of life in the aftermath of the shocking news, including–but clearly not limited to–the soccer world. Bryant was a huge soccer fan. He had a large connection to the sport, both domestically and abroad.