The 50 Greatest Athletes To Ever Walk The Planet
50. Shaun White
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“The Flying Tomato” is essentially the modern day Evel Knievel. White’s passion for all winter sports can only be described as reckless yet effective. He remains as the record holder for the most Olympic gold medals by a snowboarder (3) – as well as the top dog in X-Games gold medals. White has long been a staple within the extreme sports world. It’s made even more impressive by the fact that he was born with a congenital heart defect (which sadly included two open-heart surgeries before his first birthday).
49. Mark Spitz
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Appropriately nicknamed “Mark The Shark,” Spitz glided through the water like a great white stalking his prey. In 1972, Spitz became the first athlete to win seven gold medals at the same Olympics, setting world records in each event. In a monstrous four-year span, Spitz set 35(!) world records. There are those questioning whether he may have originated from some sort of aquatic animal (or that he was just blessed with a ridiculous ability in the pool).
48. Johan Cruyff
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Cruyff was instrumental in fostering a new wave of soccer players. Inventive and brash, Cruyff had no qualms about going at opposing defenders with his wildly deep bag of tricks. Players past and present continue to imitate Cruyff’s attack-minded approach with much fervor. However, few — if any — are able to bring the same sort of innate creativity to the table. Sadly, the iconic Cruyff passed away in 2016 at the age of 68.
47. Martina Navratilova
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Navratilova is both an accomplished singles and doubles player. As a solo act, the Czech native won 1,442 matches, including nine victories at Wimbledon. In doubles, her and Pam Shriver were an overwhelming force that won 109 consecutive matches together. We won’t be shy about making this declaration: Navratilova is one of the two-best women’s tennis players of all-time (next to Serena Williams).
46. Ty Cobb
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Cobb played the game of baseball like a football player. Fast and aggressive, he dominated play in the field, in the batter’s box, and as a baserunner. Cobb accrued an eye-popping 4,191 hits throughout his illustrious career. The hard-nosed Georgia native holds the record to this day for the most steals (54) of home plate. Off the baseball diamond, Cobb was a man focused on racial equality and educational opportunities for all.
45. Walter Payton
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The 1985 Super Bowl winning Chicago Bears are heralded for their stalwart defense, but they also happened to have one of the game’s all-time great running backs on the other side of the ball. “Sweetness” lived up to his nickname with a silky-smooth running style. His patented stutter step (dubbed “the scissor kick”) made many defenders look downright silly. Sadly, Payton passed away in 1999 due to complications from a rare liver disease. He was only 45 years of age.
44. Mario Lemieux
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The 6-foot-4 Center was a treat to watch. Lemieux played the game with considerable pace and rhythm. He wasn’t a traditional hulking Center – but rather an innovator on the ice. Lemieux had ridiculously quick hands. This enabled him to routinely fake out defenders en route to the goal. He averaged 0.754 goals per game for his career — good for the second-highest rate of all-time. Lemieux would have put up even larger numbers had it not been for a myriad of health problems (which includes issues with his heart, back, and hip).
43. Bill Russell
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The 11-time champion was the leader of a dynastic Boston Celtics club that ruled the NBA for two decades. An elite defender and rebounder, Russell regularly got the better of teams that featured fellow all-time greats in Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West. Russell’s defensive ability in the paint may be unparalleled. Though not overly skilled as an offensive player, Russell’s defensive traits still allowed for him to dominate games.
42. Jackie Robinson
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It’s only fitting to have Jackie Robinson at #42 on this list. Robinson was a transformative figure in terms of breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. The six-time All-Star was also a standout football, basketball, and track athlete during his college years at UCLA. More than anything, Robinson acted as a role model for so many who had previously felt disenfranchised. His desire to be great — coupled with his determination — truly led to Robinson being an iconic figure.
41. Joe Louis
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The power punching heavyweight slugged his way to 66 wins over an illustrious 18-year career. After winning the belt in 1937, Louis would go on to reign as heavyweight champion for nearly 12 years and 25 defenses. The ring wasn’t the only place Louis excelled; he was also an avid golfer that attended many major tournaments. In 1952, he became the first African American to feature in a PGA Tour event when he played in the San Diego Open.
40. Babe Zaharias
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Zaharias was an athletic marvel. Hailing from Texas, she garnered All-American honors in basketball, won two Gold medals in the 1932 Olympics, and was a 10-time LPGA Tour Champion. Crazily enough, Zaharias — a native of Texas — was even a decent baseball player. When factoring in her mass success in four different sports, there’s no question that Zaharias is likely the most prolific female athlete in the history of athletics.
39. Barry Sanders
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Sanders was lightning in a bottle on the field, breaking away from defenders with incredible quickness and vision. In 151 career games, Sanders accrued 18,120 yards from scrimmage, good for sixth all-time. Had he not retired following his age-30 season, Sanders would have likely went on to become the league’s all-time leading rusher.
38. Simone Biles
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Since the age of 16, Biles has been a fixture on the world stage. In a long history of excellent Olympic gymnasts from the United States, Biles might be the best one ever. She first became a World all-around champion at 16 years of age. Biles enjoyed great success in multiple events. As such, it comes as no surprise that the 4-foot-8 athlete has four Olympic gold medals and 14 golds from various World Championships.
37. Joe DiMaggio
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A pillar of consistency, the former Yankee center-fielder etched his name in the record books with a historic 56-game hitting streak during the 1941 season. DiMaggio is a nine-time World Series Champion, a three-time MVP, and a member of the Major League Baseball All-Century team. One must truly marvel at DiMaggio’s hand-eye coordination. Aside from having a picture-perfect swing, DiMaggio almost always squared the ball up.
36. Shaquille O’Neal
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O’Neal broke the mold as a mountain of man possessing ridiculous levels of quickness and unabated athletic ability. He was as dominant as he was large. Rarely — if ever — did O’Neal face single coverage on any possession in the post. O’Neal’s turnaround baby hook was essentially unstoppable. Whenever getting deep position on the block, O’Neal would simply pivot en route to slamming the ball home. This would occur often with multiple players draped all over him.
35. Katie Ledecky
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Women’s swimming has never seen an athlete dominate on the level Ledecky has. The then 15-year-old was a revelation during the 2012 London Olympics, taking home a gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle. She followed up that performance with four more golds in Rio de Janeiro four years later. In total, Ledecky has broken 13 world records over her short career.
34. Joe Montana
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Montana is a classic example of an athlete extracting every ounce of ability from his body. He wasn’t the most athletic quarterback in the world — nor did he have ideal measurables from a height or arm strength standpoint. However, it didn’t really matter. The four-time Super Bowl Champion was equipped with immeasurable amounts of guile, grit, and moxie.
33. Kobe Bryant
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Bryant’s career can be summed up by his two most memorable games. The first came in 2006, an 81-point onslaught against the Toronto Raptors – still the second most points scored by a player in a single game. The second came four years later in the NBA Finals. Bryant gutted through a tough shooting night to lead his Lakers to a grueling Game 7 victory over the rival Boston Celtics, forever etching his name in Los Angeles sports history.
32. Lawrence Taylor
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In a league of scary defenders, Taylor was the most feared of all. He impacted the game in a way no one had seen before. Taylor had a cat-quick first step. He’d easily blow by larger, lumbering tackles. As a means of switching it up, he could also bull-rush with ridiculous amounts of strength. Off-the-field issues aside, Taylor was simply a phenomenal football player.
31. Wilt Chamberlain
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“Wilt the Stilt” was a man amongst boys during his playing career. Look no further than his historic 100-point performance for proof of his dominance. Even after his NBA days were over, Chamberlain remained a dominant athlete. For his efforts within the sport, Chamberlain was named to the Volleyball Hall of Fame, becoming one of the select few athletes to be enshrined for multiple sports.
30. Carl Lewis
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Lewis was quite the anomaly as an Olympic runner. A winner of 10 medals (nine Gold), he’s one of a handful of athletes to have won Gold medals in the same event on four consecutive occasions. In terms of consistency over an elongated period of time, there may have been no one better than the American runner.
29. John Elway
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The two-time Super Bowl winner was ahead of his time for his ability to make plays with his feet while keeping his eyes down field. Not only was Elway a potent gunslinger, but he also excelled in baseball, where he was selected in the second round of the 1981 Major League draft by the New York Yankees. He’s made a second career for himself as general manager of the Broncos since 2011. Elway helped construct the roster that won Super Bowl 50.
28. Ted Williams
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Williams possessed undeniable skill at the plate. The 19-time All-Star remains as baseball’s best contact hitter of all-time. The San Diego native was clinical in smacking the baseball. His eye for the ball was tremendous — as was his ability to put the barrel of the bat on the ball. He’s the last hitter to have a batting average of over .400 (.406) in a single season.
27. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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The UCLA and Los Angeles Laker legend was an overwhelming force at both the collegiate and professional levels. His six MVP trophies are the most won by a player in league history, fitting in perfectly with his six NBA Championship rings. Abdul-Jabaar’s name has become synonymous with his patented “sky hook”, an unblockable shot that helped him become the league’s all-time leading scorer.
26. Floyd Mayweather
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We know he’s a controversial figure. Many dislike him for his outlandish personality, as well as some of his out-of-the-ring transgressions. With that said, one must appreciate just how good ‘Money May’ has been in the ring. Mayweather’s face appears next to the term “defensive boxer” in the dictionary. A perfect 50-0, Mayweather can consider himself the best of all-time for his weight class. He’s unrivaled in terms of technique, skill, and evasiveness.
25. Bo Jackson
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The former professional football and baseball player was a physical marvel. Jackson’s height (6-foot-1), weight (230-pounds), and speed (4.2 40-yard dash) combo is about as impressive as it gets. He’s one of only two players in NFL history with multiple 90-yard plus rushes. Jackson’s longest carry, a 92-yard highlight-filled scamper against the Cincinnati Bengals, came in the same year that he was selected to be an MLB All-Star. A true dual-threat, Jackson had no limits as an athlete.
24. Diego Maradona
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Maradona became a true global icon with his combination of insanely gifted play and eccentric personality quirks. His flair for the dramatic has Maradona mentioned directly adjacent to Pelé as an all-time great. There were moments when the ball appeared to be glued to his foot. Maradona’s diminutive frame enabled him to deftly move close to the ground. This enhanced his ball control, and thus made him immensely difficult to contain.
23. Gordie Howe
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Howe’s illustrious career spanned 32 seasons, including 25 years with Detroit. As a Red Wing, Howe won six MVP awards, and four Stanley Cup championships. His name still lives on in the hockey world, as a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” refers to a player who records a goal, an assist, and a fight in a single game.
22. Barry Bonds
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Bonds holds the official all-time record for most career home runs (762). Whether you believe Bonds was using performance-enhancing drugs or not, there’s no denying his unreal talent. Bonds initially started as a slender outfielder with base-stealing capabilities. From there, he physically got bigger — and thus started spraying the ball all over the park (and ultimately out of the park). Never has the game seen a more feared hitter than Bonds.
21. Jack Nicklaus
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Nicklaus was consistently among the top contenders in the sport. Along with his 18 major championship wins, Nicklaus also placed second in majors 19 times. He also became the oldest player to ever don the green jacket when he won the Masters in 1986, at 46 years old. At this point, it comes down to Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only two options for “best golfer of all-time.”
20. Hank Aaron
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The Alabama native was elected to an eye-popping 25 All-Star games. In the post Ruth-era, Aaron was the unquestioned top slugger for a nearly 30-year period. Aaron was transcendent for his time. In the current climate of baseball, players look for the perfect ‘launch angle’ when popping home runs over the fence. In Aaron’s case, his sweet upper-cut stroke worked perfectly in making him an all-time great.
19. Jim Brown
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Brown is one of the few players of his time period that could have fared well during any era of football. An explosive tailback with true breakaway speed, Brown was a nightmare to bring down. The lifetime Cleveland Brown led the league in rushing eight times, and became the first-ever player to rush for 10,000 yards before his 30th birthday. It would’ve been a blast to see Brown in his prime play versus the talent of today’s NFL.
18. Lionel Messi
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The diminutive Argentinean has a wand-like left foot – which manipulates the ball similarly to how da Vinci could manipulate brush strokes on a canvas. The ending result includes sheer beauty and a world-class product. Messi literally is akin to an artist in terms of how seamlessly he plays the sport. Whether it’s passing to teammates — or scoring for himself — Messi is among the best to ever play.
17. Magic Johnson
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After winning a National Championship at Michigan State, Johnson was drafted first overall in the ensuing NBA Draft. The Lakers made the NBA Finals in Johnson’s first year. As a rookie, Johnson averaged 21.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, and 8.7 APG to help capture the first of his eventual five NBA Championships. His rivalry with Celtics legend Larry Bird helped carry the sport through its resurgence.
16. Willie Mays
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A prime example of what it means to be a two-way player, Mays patrolled center field as gracefully as can be. Mays is most known for making basket-catches on any fly ball hit to the outfield. This even happened when chasing a ball hit over his head. Mays would display the uncanny ability to still catch the ball in his unorthodox way. His ability to impact the game both offensively and defensively was simply spectacular. Few in today’s game possess elite traits in both categories. It furthers the notion as to how good Mays truly was.
15. Tom Brady
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A former sixth-round pick from Michigan, Brady never looked back after being inserted into the starting role following a Drew Bledsoe injury. He has since led the New England Patriots to eight Super Bowls, including five victories. His four Super Bowl MVPs are the most in league history, and is still looking to add upon that total into his 40’s.
14. Usain Bolt
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There has not been an athlete with a more apt surname. The Jamaican sprinter smashed multiple world records en route to becoming the world’s fastest athlete. Bolt’s ability to ‘make it look easy’ truly enhances his greatness even further. Though Michael Phelps has the most Olympic medals of all-time, we don’t think there’s been a more dominant Olympic athlete than Bolt.
13. Jesse Owens
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Owens became an instant legend during a 45-minute span on May 25, 1935. On that day, Owens tied the world record for the 100-yard dash, and set new records in the long jump, 220-yard sprint, and 220-yard hurdles. Although his times don’t stack up to athletes today, there’s no diminishing his overall greatness as a well-rounded track-and-field athlete.
12. Jim Thorpe
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The gold medal-winning Olympian is the true definition of a multi-faceted athlete. In addition to Thorpe’s exploits in the Olympic Games, he was also a two-sport star in both professional baseball and football (which included developing into a Hall of Fame NFL player). Thorpe’s physical prowess in multiple sports aids in the notion that he is an all-time elite athlete.
11. Wayne Gretzky
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Hockey’s premier playmaker, Gretzky dazzled fans with his precise puck handling and penchant for setting up teammates. The NHL has only seen four 200-point seasons by a single player – Gretzky did it all four times. In fact, “The Great One” has nine of the top 11 scoring seasons in NHL history. Accompanied with his four Stanley Cup victories, Gretzky is clearly the most accomplished player in league history.
10. Jerry Rice
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Though not the biggest nor fastest player at his position, Rice was simply the best. His will to win – coupled with an immense dedication to the game – has him regarded as the best pro football player of all-time. Rice ran flawless routes, and had the exact wherewithal in knowing when to break his route off in search of the football. He’s a player whom maximized every single ounce of ability out of his body.
9. Serena Williams
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Williams has won an astonishing 85 percent of her singles matches. She defeats opponents with a thunderous serve and unrelenting offensive attack. Despite losing time due to illness and injury, Williams has persevered to cultivate one of the greatest careers (man or woman) in tennis history. Serena should also be commended for being at the top of her game for a rather lengthy period of time. Most athletes suffer a large fall-off upon hitting 30 years of age. However, Williams is one of those exceptions.
8. Muhammad Ali
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He floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee. Equally as brilliant with his words as he was with his fists (and feet), Ali will forever go down as one of the most popular athletes the world has ever known. He was a terrific boxer — particularly when moving around the ring. However, the persona of Ali is what lasts with all of us. An advocate for racial equality, Ali wasn’t shy about publicly voicing his opinions on otherwise untouchable topics. This made him both popular and highly respected.
7. Roger Federer
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After turning pro in 1998 at the age of 17, Federer wasted no time making his name known throughout tennis circles. By 2004, Federer was ATP’s No. 1 ranked player. He’s held that distinction on five different occasions, for a total of 309 weeks. The Swiss native has won over $116 million in prize money alone throughout his career. Even at 36, he’s competing and beating the best in the world. It won’t be long before he adds to his record 20 Grand Slam Singles Titles.
6. Pelé
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A true icon in the sport, Pelé cultivated both excitement and creativity when on the pitch. In a sport that’s revered by billions across the world, Pelé developed into the first global star. He not only helped in putting his home country (Brazil) on the map as a world power, but he also helped raise the profile of the sport as a whole. Never has the sport seen such a dynamic goal-scoring threat. He played the game akin to how Steph Curry effortlessly launches threes.
5. LeBron James
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No player in the last 50 years of sports has had more pressure to succeed than James. Entering the league as the “Chosen One,” James was expected to light the league on fire with his enormous body and freakish athleticism. He’s fulfilled those expectations, and then some. The four-time MVP is well on his way to breaking the league’s all-time scoring record, and remains the NBA’s top player 15 years into his career. With no signs of slowing down, the longevity James has sustained is unprecedented.
4. Babe Ruth
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Ruth’s prolific nature as a slugger had him teetering between half-man/half-myth. He truly is a larger-than-life figure in the annals of baseball. Ruth pitched for the vast majority of his career. He also slugged home runs out with relative regularity. His massive frame only added to the lore of his brilliance. Though we can’t unequivocally compare Ruth’s era with the current one, we have a feeling he’d fare just fine in today’s MLB.
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3. Tiger Woods
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Woods holds a number of near-unbreakable records, including being ranked No. 1 in the world for a preposterous 683 weeks. With an endless catalog of impossible putts and jaw-dropping drives, Woods is often considered the greatest golfer of all-time. Aside from being a sublime talent, Woods also became a marketing machine. He single-handedly revolutionized marketing campaigns emanating from Nike. In fact, he’s got his own parking spot at the Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
2. Michael Phelps
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The Maryland native is the winningest Olympian of all-time. Aside from setting 39 world records, Phelps has won 28 Olympic medals (including 23 of the Gold variety). There’s really not much else to be said about Phelps’s brilliance in the pool. Powerfully built with freakishly long arms, he glided in the pool with the greatest of ease. In the process, Phelps became the most decorated Olympian in the history of the world.
1. Michael Jordan
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Technically, he was nearly flawless. Jordan was a highly intelligent player that worked diligently at his craft, developing pristine footwork and the most deadly fade-away jump-shot in the game’s history. His list of accolades is nearly unparalleled. A five-time MVP, six-time NBA Champion, 14-time All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and Slam Dunk Champion, Jordan was an unstoppable force on the hardwood. Simply put, he is the G.O.A.T.
