ESPN’s analysis not only considered the athletes’ sporting achievements, but also their cultural and social influence, highlighting their legacy for future generations in their respective disciplines.
The list of the 100 best athletes of the 21st century:
1. Michael Phelps, swimming
2. Serena Williams, tennis
3. Lionel Messi, football
4. LeBron James, basketball
5. Tom Brady, American football
6. Roger Federer, tennis
7. Simone Biles, gymnastics
8- Tiger Woods, golf
10. Kobe Bryant, basketball
11. Novak Djokovic, tennis
12. Rafael Nadal, tennis
13. Cristiano Ronaldo, football
14. Stephen Curry, basketball
15. Katie Ledecky, swimming
16. Tim Duncan, basketball
17. Shaquille O’Neal, basketball
18. Patrick Mahomes, American football
19. Lewis Hamilton, F1
20. Aaron Donald, American football
21. Diana Taurasi, basketball
22. Sidney Crosby, hockey
23. Kevin Garnett, basketball
24. Albert Pujols, baseball
25. Floyd Mayweather, boxing
26. Peyton Manning, American football
27. Randy Moss, American football
28. Nikola Jokic, basketball
29. Michael Schumacher, F1
30. Mike Trout, baseball
31. Clayton Kershaw, baseball
32. Marta, football
33. Miguel Cabrera, baseball
34. Tamika Catchings, basketball
35. Dwyane Wade, basketball
36. Maya Moore, basketball
37. Ichiro Suzuki, baseball
38. Barry Bonds, baseball
39. Kevin Durant, basketball
40. Justin Verlander, baseball
41. Dirk Nowitzki, basketball
42. Giannis Antetokounmpo, basketball
43. Alex Rodriguez, baseball
44. Mikaela Shiffrin, skiing
45. David Ortiz, baseball
46. Max Scherzer, baseball
47. Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR
48. Thierry Henry, football
49. Aitana Bonmatí, football
50. Zinedine Zidane, football
51. Steve Nash, basketball
52. Adrian Beltre, baseball
53. Derek Jeter, baseball
54. Alex Ovechkin, hockey
55. Luka Modric, football
56. Alexia Putellas, football
57. Calvin Johnson, American football
58. JJ Watt, football
59. Mariano Rivera, baseball
60. Candace Parker, basketball
61. Ray Lewis, football
62. Shohei Ohtani, baseball
63. Allyson Felix, athletics
64. Mia Hamm, football
65. Kylian Mbappé, football
66. Jon Jones, MMA
67. James Harden, basketball
68. Phil Mickelson, golfer
69. Jason Kidd, basketball
70. Andres Iniesta, football
71. Manny Pacquiao, boxing
72. Shaun White, snowboard
73. Mookie Betts, baseball
74. Lisa Leslie, basketball
75. Xavi Hernandez, football
76. Georges St-Pierre, MMA
77. Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, athletics
78. Bernard Hopkins, boxing
79. Bryce Harper, baseball
80. Andy Murray, tennis
81. Sheryl Swoopes, basketball
82. Kohei Uchimura, gymnastics
83. Chris Paul, basketball
84. Lauren Jackson, basketball
85. Kawhi Leonard, basketball
86. Venus Williams, tennis
87. Ronaldo Nazario, football
88. Roy Halladay, baseball
89. Annika Sørenstam, golf
90. A’ja Wilson, basketball
91. Aaron Rodgers, American football
92. Pedro Martinez, baseball
93. Rory McIlroy, golfer
94. Ronaldinho, football
95. Zlatan Ibrahimovi, football
96. Darrelle Revis, American football
97. Virat Kohli, cricket
98. Connor McDavid, hockey
99. Ed Reed, American football
100. Charles Woodson, American football
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
