If your talking gamewise, Laguna. Though Squall may not have had that many friends, people sure knew who he was in the game. Even at the start, they knew him as Seifers rival and a young man who was constantly having a go with him.

Laguna...Simply wasnt a popular type. People liked him, adored him, and later on in the game[spoilers] he was chosen to lead a sort of resistants against Adel force,and ended up sealing her away,becoming president of esthar[/spoilers].He was quite a numb skull,so people (while he was in the army) proabably ignored him for the most part.

so...Laguna.

If your speaking of who we believe is the most popular...Again,Lagunas got my vote.I just love him.