Editorial · All 713 ranked
Greatest
Greatest
Athletes of All Time
One ranking. Every sport. Every athlete we cover, weighed by dominance, longevity, honours and cultural impact.
Scores blend championships, individual awards, records and legacy. The top three earn gold, silver and bronze. A living list, updated as careers unfold.
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Nation | Honours | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael JordanBasketball · Shooting guard / small forward | Basketball |  United States | NBA Championshipsx8 | 8 |
| 2 | Cristiano RonaldoFootball · Forward | Football |  Portugal | UEFA European Championshipx11 | 11 |
| 3 | Magic JohnsonBasketball · Point guard | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx7 | 7 |
| 4 | David BeckhamFootball · Midfielder | Football |  England | Premier League Titlesx7 | 7 |
| 5 | Lionel MessiFootball · Forward | Football |  Argentina | FIFA World Cupx8 | 8 |
| 6 | Roger FedererTennis · Singles | Tennis |  Switzerland | Grand Slam Singles Titlesx7 | 7 |
| 7 | LeBron JamesBasketball · Small forward / Power forward | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx6 | 6 |
| 8 | Tiger WoodsGolf · Professional Golfer | Golf | United States | World Golf Hall of Famex6 | 6 |
| 9 | Kobe BryantBasketball · Shooting guard | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx10 | 10 |
| 10 | The RockWrestling | Wrestling | United States | WWE Championx5 | 5 |
| 11 | Shaquille O'NealBasketball · Center | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx9 | 9 |
| 12 | Haile GebrselassieMarathon · Long-distance running | Marathon |  Ethiopia | Olympic Gold Medalsx6 | 6 |
| 13 | Lewis HamiltonF1 · Driver | F1 |  United Kingdom | Formula One World Championshipsx5 | 5 |
| 14 | Floyd MayweatherBoxing · Professional Boxer | Boxing | United States | Undefeated Professional Recordx8 | 8 |
| 15 | Kevin DurantBasketball · Small forward / Power forward | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx10 | 10 |
| 16 | Maria SharapovaTennis · Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Tennis |  Russia | Grand Slam singles titlesx10 | 10 |
| 17 | Tyson FuryBoxing · Heavyweight | Boxing | United Kingdom | WBC Heavyweight Championx11 | 11 |
| 18 | Phil MickelsonGolf | Golf | United States | Masters Tournamentx6 | 6 |
| 19 | Novak DjokovicTennis · Singles | Tennis |  Serbia | Grand Slam Singles Titlesx8 | 8 |
| 20 | Serena WilliamsTennis · Singles | Tennis | United States | Grand Slam Singles Titlesx6 | 6 |
| 21 | Canelo ÁlvarezBoxing · Professional Boxer | Boxing |  Mexico | Undisputed Super Middleweight Championx6 | 6 |
| 22 | Mohamed SalahFootball · Right winger | Football |  Egypt | Premier League Golden Bootx11 | 11 |
| 23 | Stephen CurryBasketball · Point guard | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx8 | 8 |
| 24 | David RobinsonBasketball · Center | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx9 | 9 |
| 25 | Kylian MbappéFootball · Forward | Football |  France | FIFA World Cupx9 | 9 |
| 26 | Erling HaalandFootball · Striker | Football |  Norway | Austrian Bundesligax12 | 12 |
| 27 | Conor McGregorUFC · Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight | UFC |  Ireland | UFC Featherweight Championx7 | 7 |
| 28 | Max VerstappenF1 · Driver | F1 |  Netherlands | Formula One World Championshipsx8 | 8 |
| 29 | Dale EarnhardtNASCAR · Driver | NASCAR | United States | Winston Cup Championshipsx6 | 6 |
| 30 | Rafael NadalTennis · Singles | Tennis |  Spain | Grand Slam Singles Titlesx7 | 7 |
| 31 | Dale Earnhardt JrNASCAR · Driver | NASCAR | United States | NASCAR Busch Series Championx4 | 4 |
| 32 | Jeff GordonNASCAR | NASCAR | United States | NASCAR Cup Series Championshipsx6 | 6 |
| 33 | Karim BenzemaFootball · Striker | Football | France | UEFA Nations Leaguex8 | 8 |
| 34 | Rory McIlroyGolf | Golf |  Northern Ireland | PGA Tour Player of the Yearx8 | 8 |
| 35 | Jon RahmGolf | Golf | Spain | U.S. Openx8 | 8 |
| 36 | Triple HWrestling · Wrestler, Executive | Wrestling | United States | WWE Hall of Famex5 | 5 |
| 37 | Scottie SchefflerGolf | Golf | United States | Masters Tournamentx11 | 11 |
| 38 | Dwyane WadeBasketball · Shooting guard | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx8 | 8 |
| 39 | Ryan GiggsFootball · Left midfielder, left winger | Football |  Wales | Premier League Titlesx11 | 11 |
| 40 | Wayne RooneyFootball · Forward, Midfielder | Football | England | Premier Leaguex8 | 8 |
| 41 | MarquinhosFootball · Centre-back | Football |  Brazil | Copa Américax6 | 6 |
| 42 | John CenaWrestling | Wrestling | WWE Championshipx10 | 10 | |
| 43 | Thierry HenryFootball · Forward | Football | France | FIFA World Cupx9 | 9 |
| 44 | RonaldinhoFootball · Attacking midfielder / Left winger | Football | Brazil | FIFA World Cupx10 | 10 |
| 45 | Michael PhelpsSwimming · Butterfly, Individual Medley, Freestyle | Swimming | United States | Olympic Gold Medalsx8 | 8 |
| 46 | David de GeaFootball · Goalkeeper | Football | Spain | UEFA European Under-21 Championshipx11 | 11 |
| 47 | Aaron RodgersFootball (US) · Quarterback | Football (US) | United States | Super Bowl Championx5 | 5 |
| 48 | Virat KohliCricket · Top-order batter | Cricket |  India | ICC ODI Player of the Yearx8 | 8 |
| 49 | Dirk NowitzkiBasketball · Power forward | Basketball |  Germany | NBA Championx8 | 8 |
| 50 | Richard PettyNASCAR · Driver | NASCAR | United States | NASCAR Cup Series Championshipsx8 | 8 |
| 51 | Fernando AlonsoF1 · Driver | F1 | Spain | Formula One World Championshipx5 | 5 |
| 52 | Judd TrumpSnooker | Snooker | England | World Championx4 | 4 |
| 53 | Rey MysterioWrestling | Wrestling | United States | WWE Championshipx13 | 13 |
| 54 | Zlatan IbrahimovićFootball · Striker | Football |  Sweden | Ligue 1 Titlesx6 | 6 |
| 55 | MS DhoniCricket · Wicket-keeper-batter | Cricket | India | Padma Bhushanx8 | 8 |
| 56 | Pete SamprasTennis · Singles | Tennis | United States | Grand Slam singles titlesx7 | 7 |
| 57 | Kevin De BruyneFootball · Midfielder | Football |  Belgium | FIFA World Cupx10 | 10 |
| 58 | Tim DuncanBasketball · Power forward / Center | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx8 | 8 |
| 59 | Boris BeckerTennis · Singles/Doubles | Tennis | Germany | Wimbledon Championshipsx7 | 7 |
| 60 | Carmelo AnthonyBasketball · Small forward / power forward | Basketball | United States | NBA All-Starx7 | 7 |
| 61 | José AltuveBaseball · Second baseman | Baseball |  Venezuela | 9× All-Starx10 | 10 |
| 62 | Russell WestbrookBasketball · Point guard | Basketball | United States | NBA Most Valuable Playerx9 | 9 |
| 63 | Frank LampardFootball · Midfielder | Football | England | Premier League titlesx8 | 8 |
| 64 | NeymarFootball · Attacking midfielder / Forward | Football | Brazil | FIFA Confederations Cupx5 | 5 |
| 65 | Shohei OhtaniBaseball · Designated hitter / Pitcher | Baseball |  Japan | NPB All-Starx7 | 7 |
| 66 | Zinedine ZidaneFootball · Attacking midfielder | Football | France | FIFA World Cupx8 | 8 |
| 67 | Dani AlvesFootball | Football | Brazil | FIFA Confederations Cupx9 | 9 |
| 68 | Ronaldo NazárioFootball · Striker | Football | Brazil | FIFA World Cupx6 | 6 |
| 69 | Phil FodenFootball · Midfielder | Football | England | FIFA U-17 World Cupx10 | 10 |
| 70 | Drew McIntyreWrestling · Wrestler | Wrestling |  Scotland | WWE Championshipx12 | 12 |
| 71 | Thomas MüllerFootball · Forward / Attacking Midfielder | Football | Germany | FIFA World Cupx10 | 10 |
| 72 | Sidney CrosbyHockey · Centre | Hockey |  Canada | Stanley Cupx9 | 9 |
| 73 | Manny PacquiaoBoxing · Professional Boxer | Boxing |  Philippines | Eight-division world championx4 | 4 |
| 74 | Giannis AntetokounmpoBasketball · Power forward | Basketball |  Greece | NBA Championx8 | 8 |
| 75 | N'Golo KantéFootball · Defensive midfielder | Football | France | FIFA World Cupx11 | 11 |
| 76 | Anthony DavisBasketball · Center / Power Forward | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx6 | 6 |
| 77 | Chris PaulBasketball · Point guard | Basketball | United States | NBA Rookie of the Yearx6 | 6 |
| 78 | Ryan GravenberchFootball · Midfielder | Football | Netherlands | Eredivisiex7 | 7 |
| 79 | Andre AgassiTennis · Singles | Tennis | United States | Grand Slam Singles Titlesx5 | 5 |
| 80 | Iker CasillasFootball · Goalkeeper | Football | Spain | FIFA World Cupx9 | 9 |
| 81 | Eden HazardFootball · Winger, Attacking Midfielder | Football | Belgium | Ligue 1 Player of the Yearx8 | 8 |
| 82 | Klay ThompsonBasketball · Shooting guard | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx6 | 6 |
| 83 | Anthony JoshuaBoxing · Heavyweight | Boxing | United Kingdom | Unified Heavyweight Championx6 | 6 |
| 84 | Harry KaneFootball · Striker | Football | England | Premier League Golden Bootx6 | 6 |
| 85 | Kawhi LeonardBasketball · Small forward | Basketball | United States | NBA Championx7 | 7 |
| 86 | Kyle BuschNASCAR · Driver | NASCAR | United States | NASCAR Cup Series Championx6 | 6 |
| 87 | Manuel NeuerFootball · Goalkeeper | Football | Germany | FIFA World Cupx8 | 8 |
| 88 | Riyad MahrezFootball · Right winger | Football |  Algeria | Africa Cup of Nationsx7 | 7 |
| 89 | Patrick MahomesFootball (US) · Quarterback | Football (US) | United States | Super Bowl Championx5 | 5 |
| 90 | Dustin JohnsonGolf | Golf | United States | U.S. Openx7 | 7 |
| 91 | AJ StylesWrestling | Wrestling | United States | TNA World Heavyweight Championx12 | 12 |
| 92 | Luke LittlerDarts | Darts | England | PDC World Championshipx12 | 12 |
| 93 | James HardenBasketball · Point guard / shooting guard | Basketball | United States | NBA Most Valuable Playerx5 | 5 |
| 94 | Luis SuárezFootball · Striker | Football |  Uruguay | Copa Américax8 | 8 |
| 95 | James RodríguezFootball · Attacking midfielder / Winger | Football |  Colombia | Copa América Runner-upx8 | 8 |
| 96 | Vinicius JrFootball · Forward / Left Winger | Football | Brazil | Copa Américax8 | 8 |
| 97 | Jimmie JohnsonNASCAR · Driver | NASCAR | United States | NASCAR Cup Series Championx3 | 3 |
| 98 | Antoine GriezmannFootball · Forward / Attacking Midfielder | Football | France | FIFA World Cupx7 | 7 |
| 99 | Bastian SchweinsteigerFootball · Midfielder | Football | Germany | FIFA World Cupx7 | 7 |
| 100 | Steven GerrardFootball · Midfielder | Football | England | UEFA Champions Leaguex8 | 8 |
Methodology: compiled from each athlete's documented honours, records and public estimates on their AthleteWiki profile. All 713 eligible athletes ranked. Updated 2026-07-14.