Greatest Sportsman of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Diego Maradona Diego Armando Maradona (October 30, 1960 - November 25, 2020) was an Argentine professional footballer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, he was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award. Maradona was given the nickname "El Pibe de Oro" ("The Golden Boy"). He was known for the "Goal of the Century" and the "Hand of God" goal. He died of cardiac arrest on November 25, 2020 at the age of 60
2 Roger Federer Roger Federer (born 8 August 1981) is a Swiss former professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 3 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in history for a male tennis player. He has held the world No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings for a record total of 302 weeks (the only male player to be No. 1 for more than 300 weeks) and was ranked No. 1 for a record 237 consecutive weeks. Federer turned professional in 1998 and was continuously ranked in the top ten from October 2002 to November 2016. ...read more.

Even if Nadal ends up winning more slams, he will never have the same class and unique appeal as Federer - Nadal is a great guy and sportsman, but he looks like Rambo - Federer represents grace and beauty.

An inspiring person who abides by rules of the game as well as being an outstanding performer and introducing a new technique and elegance to the game of tennis.

Roger is a legend. It's unique what he shows on the court. His tennis is art and beside this he is a classy person.

The Tennis king! Nobody will come close to him, except maybe Rafael Nadal, that's pretty much it

3 Pele Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as "Pelé", was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward. In 1999 he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2000, Pelé was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), and was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century.

Pele is without a doubt the greatest Soccer player of all time! He made Brazil what it is today, and gave it a great reputation

How is Maradona at number one?! Pele is the GOAT! He was the FIFA Player of the Century and the IOC Athlete of the Century!

The greatest soccer player of all time, a true sportsman and a legend, a fair player!

Pele is the greatest soccer player to set foot on the planet!

4 Sachin Tendulkar Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is a former Indian cricketer and captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.

More expectations and pressure than anyone has ever faced in the history of sports. 1.2 billion people look out at him every time he goes out to play.

You can't find any other sportsman who embarked on the international stage at an age of 16 and performed with utmost consistency for next 24 years.

Held almost every batting record when he retired. May be a record of having most number of records as well.

I don't think that any other sportsperson in the history has ever been given the status of god, as he is generally called by almost every cricket fan and many cricket greats - The god of cricket.

Most importantly, even after such a huge success he didn't let it get to his head. One of the humblest person you could ever imagine.

Probably the most humble celebrity you will meet in your life...it didn't matter who india played in the past 24 years because I knew that we had the best player in the world and everyone where scared to face him...surely going to miss him

The Best There Is, The Best There Was and The Best There Ever Will Be... Its an honor to add this guy to any list... but common--ponting is in the list and sachin's not?

I dunno why he is placed so dwn the order... below ricky ponting shucks... if india wud hve been a developed country his name wud hve been right on top

5 Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often credited with paving the way for modern mixed martial arts (MMA). Lee is considered by critics, media, and other martial artists to be the most influential martial artist of all time and a pop culture icon of the 20th century, who bridged the gap between East and West. He is credited with promoting Hong Kong action cinema and helping to change the way Asians were presented in American films.

Bruce Lee and Mohummid Ali were the greatest. As they transcended sport with their greatness, philosophies, leadership and personality.

Father of Mixed Martial Arts. Pioner of the Martial Arts movie genre.A man who changed the world!

6 Donald Bradman Sir Donald George Bradman often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. Bradman's career Test batting average of 99.94 has been cited as the greatest achievement by any sportsman in any major sport.

Can you name any sportsman who was statistically twice as good as every single other major player of the sport? No? Well, I give you Sir Don Bradman. Dude's batting average holds the record at 99.94. To put that in perspective, the second runner-up is at 61.87. This is one dumbass list. I am Indian and even I admit that Bradman should be way above Sachin Tendulkar.

Bradman was a freak of nature. His statistics are so way in excess of his peers that he has to be considered the greatest sportsman of all time.

He is the greatest Cricketer and Batsman of all time and he has the stats to prove it. Had an average of 99.94 runs in 52 test matches.

Duh. Bradman's has been voted the best by professional people as the best by far. He is way better than the rest

7 Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player.

Michael Jordan is the greatest of the greats, nobody will reach him in basketball and he always remained dominant in what he done. Michael Jordan is more successful than any athlete on this list.

Definitely has to be the greatest sportsman of all time.

GREAT GUY

GREAT PLAYER
AND REACHED LEGENDARY STATUS IN NO TIME

Jordan is a true legend of Sport, without doubt the most inspirational player of all time and truly greatest athlete in history

Definitely the greatest sportsman in the world, you can't match him in what he does

8 Dhyan Chand

If you don't know how great he is please use wikipedia..

9 Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer who is among the most successful golfers of all time.

Tiger woods is by far the greatest sportsman of his time! and always ahead of the competition, think about it? Basketball, MJ had to train for, Muhammad Ali had to train, maybe Roger Federer comes in the competition, but Tiger Woods, Golf came very natural to him, he was playing golf at a professional like level at the age of 3! Yep that's right as an infant.

The greatest Golfer of all time! not world number 1 at the moment because of all this mistress crap! that shouldn't get in the way of his playing ability, he was playing golf at three years old for Christ's sake! Plus he is definitely a very good athlete and no one will ever come close to his ability, absolutely with great pride is the G. O. A. T.

the GOAT of Golfing! Tiger woods has had some personal issues but that should in no way get in the way of his playing ability. He will thump any Golfer in a Tour. Plus has won multiple P. G. A. 's

The greatest Golfer ever to walk the planet! And always will be! There will never be a golfer better than that of Tiger Woods, the legend and the champion!

10 Michael Schumacher
The Contenders
11 Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer, poet, and philanthropist. Nicknamed The Greatest, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sporting figures of the 20th century, and is frequently ranked as the best heavyweight boxer and greatest athlete of the century.

The G.O.A. T in terms of sport, nobody can even compare with the impact he had on sports. He impacted black movement, the Vietnam war ^^ Islam; not to mention the upsets he caused in boxing beating Sonny. Oh and BBC also ironically (ironic becuase Indians have voted for Tendulkar) created an article saying he is the best and tendulkar is not. I'm with Mandela, that simply has to be Ali, the greatest great there has ever been and probably ever will be.

His personality charisma pretty much dominated the sporting world. Greatest of all time. Surprised to see so many picked Tendulkar above him, especially since Ali's personality was the greatest in sporting history

Conquered the boxing world made him great, whilst also acting and speaking about the wider world he saw around him, equals the greatest

Muhammad Ali was incredible in his time, who the hell is Sachin Tendulkar? Some cricketer, this guy is a legend

12 Lionel Messi Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona. He is also known as one of the greatest football players of all time. He was born in Rosario, Argentina on June 24th, 1987.

He is one of the greatest sportsman of this generation after Usain Bolt and Roger Federer, when he will retire from football he can be the greatest sports person of all time, He is very complete, he has done everything in football except this he is also a very good game player, play maker. I am pleased that you liked my comment.

Sachin Tendulkar at no. 1 spot. The reason is that he is from India, acountry with population of over one billion and will obviously get all the votes of Indians.

Widely regarded as the greatest, most complete football player ever in the most widely played sport. Number 1.

He is awesome the reason is that he found another way to dribble.

13 Valentino Rossi

Superb control on 2 wheels on any surface and any weather. A genuine racer, drives on the edge putting his life on the line every time in practice, qualifying and racing.

9 world titles and, in 2015, the oldest racer in the grid and leading the championship.

14 Ayrton Senna Ayrton Senna da Silva (21 March 1960 – 1 May 1994) was a Brazilian racing driver who won three Formula One world championships for McLaren in 1988, 1990 and 1991 and is regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. He was killed in an accident while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix for Williams.

Senna was the definition of geniality.
He represents victory, because that is what he sought. Not the second or third place. He drove the cars beyond their limits. He exhausted all his physical forces and challenged his own death for victory, and when death got to him he was in first place! Victory was the only option and he achieved it.
He was honest, just, but relentless! He represented this as no one in the sport world.
He did not die. He crossed the finish line before us all.

The greatest F1 driver of all time, and also the greatest sportsman of all time!

15 Rafael Nadal Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player, currently world No. 1 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
16 Ronaldinho Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980), commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho or simply Ronaldinho, is a Brazilian former professional footballer and current ambassador for Barcelona. He played mostly as an attacking midfielder, but was also deployed as a winger. Often considered one of the best players of his generation and regarded by many as one of the greatest of all time, Ronaldinho won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d'Or. A global icon of the sport, he was renowned for his technical skills, creativity and dribbling ability, as well as his use of tricks, feints, overhead kicks, no-look passes and accuracy from free-kicks.
17 Jacques Kallis
18 Michael Phelps Michael Fred Phelps II (born June 30, 1985) is an American former competitive swimmer and the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals (23), Olympic gold medals in individual events (13), and Olympic medals in individual events (16). When he won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, Phelps broke fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven first-place finishes at any single Olympic Games. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Phelps had already tied the record of eight medals of any color at a single Games by winning six gold and two bronze medals. At the 2012 Summer ...read more.
19 Yelena Isinbayeva
20 Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (born 5 February 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Juventus and captains the Portugal national team.

I feel he is one of the greatest footballer and really handsome athlete now... the way he plays and goals they are really amazing

He is underrated

21 Wayne Gretzky Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for four teams from 1979 to 1999.

The greatest hockey legend in history! He made a big impact on Hockey like MJ for basketball, Tiger Woods for Golf, Pele and Ronaldo for Soccer and Muhammad Ali for boxing! This man is a legendary hall of famer!

The greatest hockey player of all time! You will always hear people say this! The G.O.A.T.!

The greatest Hockey player of all time! Canadians know how to get it done!

greatest legend in history! so good at what he does like most canadians

22 Imran Khan

The best cricketer of the world... Charismatic, handsome, a true leader and the fighter with the strongest will...

Greatest cricketing all-rounder of all times!

23 Shawn Michaels Shawn Michaels was born on July 22, 1965 . He is an American professional wrestler. He is the first wrestler to win all the titles the WWE could have offered. He is known for his moves and looks. His nickname provided by WWE is HBK (Heart Break Kid). He was in DX (Degeneration X) a tag team with Triple H, and was the only nWo to not be in WCW. He is known by many names such as: The Showstopper, The Best of the Best, Mr. Wrestlemania, Mr. Hall of Fame, Sexy Boy, The Icon, The Headliner and The Main Event.

Best wrestler ever

24 Rocky Marciano

The man never lost. His record speaks for itself. simply the best. Ali was good but better with his mouth than his fists.

25 Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant (1978 - 2020) was an American retired professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Kobe Bryant has won 5 NBA championships with the Lakers and was the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. ...read more.
8Load More
PSearch List