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Top 10 Greatest Athletes Of All Time

From Tennis to European football, we are lucky to have witnessed some of the top professionals in their respective sports over many years now. Determining the greatest athletes of all time is all about folks who have not only graced with their excellence in their respective sports but have also left a great mark on the world of athletics.

While the conversation is about athletes, there might be quite a few names that can come to your mind. But who are the top 10 greatest athletes of all time? In this blog, we will find out their names.

10 Greatest Athletes of All Time

RankAthletesSports
1Michael JordanNBA
2Serena WilliamsTennis
3Lionel MessiSoccer
4Usain BoltSprinting
5Simon BilesGymnastics
6Tom BradyNFL
7Michael PhelpsSwimming
8Cristiano RonaldoFootball
9Tiger WoodsGolf
10Muhammad AliBoxing
Table: Greatest Athletes of All Time

1. Michael Jordan

Micahel is widely known as the finest basketball player in history. His unmatched set of skills and competitive drive has led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s. Jordan’s influence extended way beyond the court, elevating global popularity and inspiring countless athletes in the NBA.

StatisticsValue
NBA Championships6
NBA Finals MVP Awards6
Regular Season MVP Awards5
All Star Appearances1.4
Career Points Per Game30.1
Michael Jordan statistics

Also Read: Most Decorated Players in World Football: From Lionel Messi to Ryan Giggs – find out where your favorites rank

2. Virat Kohli

Taking the attention towards the cricketing world. If there is one name that many countries fear the most, it is the India’s very own Virat Kohli. Among lot of his quality attributes, he is especially known for his aggressive approach in the games along with delivering in the biggest stages internationally and domestically.

Be it the test cricket or T-20s, cricketing fans all over the world are lucky enough to witness the magic of Virat Kohli’s class with batting and captaincy.

StatisticsValue
Test Cricket9230
ODI13906
t-204188
IPL8004
World Cup1
Virat Kohli numbers

3. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is as popular as La Pulga. In the World of Football, he is the only player who have won it all. The Argentine has won the Ballon d’Or 7 times, surpassing his fierce competition Cristiano Ronaldo.

All greatest footballer Lionel Messi
All greatest footballer Lionel Messi (Image via Twitter)

From his vision in the field to his unmatched dribbling and goal-scoring abilities, he has earned himself numerous accolades over the years. From the Camp Nou stadium to now in Inter Miami, his journey with football is nothing shorter than a masterpiece of an artist. La Pulga has a massive fan following in every corner of the world.

StatisticsValue
Ballon d’Or7
UEFA Champions League Titles4
Domestic League Titles10
Career GoalsOver 700
AssistsOver 300
Lionel Messi stats

4. Usain Bolt

You have surely heard the name of the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt. Since you have, you also know that he is the fastest man alive who has dominated the sprinting events, holding records in the 100m and 200m. His charismatic personality and unprecedented speed have made him a worldwide icon in athletics.

StatisticsValue
Olympic Gold Medals8
World Championship Golds11
100m World Record9.58 seconds
200m World Record19.19 seconds
Undefeated Seasons (100m/200m)Multiple
Stats of Usain Bolt

5. Novak Djokovic

We steer the attention towards Tennis this time. This list of top 10 athletes in the world is incomplete without the number 1 tennis player of the world, Novak Djokovic. The Serbian professional tennis player has reached the heights many players have dreamed of. When asked about the secret towards his successful career, the player always pointed out the support of his family.

National ChampionshipsValue
1st Serve Won74%
2nd Serve Won56%
Return Games Won32%
Return Points Won42%
Total Points Won54%
Novak Djokovic stats

6. Tom Brady

When the conversation is about American Football, Tom Brady is the name that will be in every discussion. He is considered the greatest quarterback in NFL history, with a record seven Super Bowl victories. His longevity and consistent high-level performance have set new standards in professional football.

NFL Legend Tom Brady with his family
NFL Legend Tom Brady with his family (Image via Twitter)
StatisticsValue
Super Bowl Titles7
Super Bowl MVP Awards5
NFL MVP Awards3
Career Touchdown PassesOver 600
Career Passing YardsOver 80,000
Tom Brady stats

7. Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is known as the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 28 medals, including 23 golds. The swimmer’s dominance in the pool across various events and Olympics is unparalleled.

StatisticsValue
Olympic Medals28
World Records Set39
Olympic Gold Medals23
World Championship Golds26
Olympic Events Completed30
Michael Phelps stats

8. Cristiano Ronaldo

If there is one athlete who is the inspiration of a generation, it is CR7. Cristiano’s athleticism, goal-scoring prowess, and versatility have made him one of the greatest in football. He is a true example of dedication and discipline.

Both Cristiano and Messi have shared the top stage of Football for over a decade. To this day, it is talked about among the fans across the world and surely the rivalry will be in the history pages forever.

Cristiano Ronaldo
All-time greatest footballer Cristiano Ronaldo (Image via ESPN)

With five Ballon d’Or awards and many titles across the top leagues of Europe, his impact on the sport is profound. As of right now, he is the top scorer across all football competitions.

StatisticsValue
Ballon d’Or Awards5
UEFA Champions League Titles5
Domestic Titles7
Career Goals790+
International Goals130+
Cristiano Ronaldo stats

9. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is the name that revolutionized golf with his unprecedented success and popularity. With 15 major championships, he is second only to Jack Nicklaus, and his influence has brought a new audience to the sport.

While certain footballers had to hang his boots to make a name in golf, there is Tiger Woods, who has taken golf to new heights.

StatisticsValue
Major Championships15
PGA Tour Wins82
Weeks as World No. 1683
Player of the Year Awards11
Career Grand Slams3
Tiger Woods stats

10. Muhammad Ali

Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee! You must have heard this phrase at a certain time in your life. That is Muhammad Ali for you.

As Mike Tyson said, every head must bow down to the greatest of all time. And he was and still is the goat of boxing. Muhammad Ali’s natural record is unmatched to this day. His final record is 56 wins and 5 losses with 37 knockouts. He is the boxing immortal!

StatisticsValue
Matches61
Wins56
Losses5
Knockouts37
Heavyweight Boxing ChampionThrice
Muhammad Ali stats

So, these are the top 10 greatest athletes of all time. From football to golf, these names have led by example and taken their sport to the highest of heights in their tenure.

Also Read: Top Five Youngest FIFA World Cup Winners

Q. Who is considered the greatest athlete of all time?

A. The answer varies as per the metrics or factors you are looking at the question with. There are athletes like Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Serena Williams among others who have shown unparalleled dominance in their sports.

Q. Who is statistically the greatest sportsman of all time?

A. Due to the accolades, Michael Phelps is the greatest sportsman of all time.

Q. Who is the best Olympian ever?

A. With 28 medals across five Olympic games, Michael Phelps is the best Olympian ever. His 23 gold medals remain unmatched in the Olympic’s history.

Q. Is Messi the greatest sportsman of all time?

A. If we take a look at it in terms of the Ballon d’Or, yes Lionel Messi is the GOAT.
However, in European football, there are other metrics out there that suggest different individuals as the greatest of all time.