Most Respected Athletes of All Time

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 nicknamed "El Pibe de Oro... read more

2. Roger Federer

   

   Roger Federer (born August 8, 1981) is a Swiss former professional tennis player. He was ranked world No. 1 in men's singles by the ATP for a total of 310 weeks, which is the second-most of all time. He also held the top ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks and finished the year as world No... read more

   Roger Federer is the best, greatest, most respected sportsman in the world of all time. He is one of the greatest human beings, a purest soul, and the most decent player ever.

   This guy is just amazing. Very decent, very elegant, a very pure soul. He is undoubtedly the greatest sportsman ever. I just love this guy.

   He is one of my few heroes and is a great human with great talent and respect, which he has no reason not to get back in return.

3. Michael Jordan

   

   Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, he made six NBA Finals appearances. Jordan won the NBA championship each time.

4. 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. Ali is... read more

   No doubt Ali was a magnificent boxer, and his slick style and controversial big mouth rejuvenated boxing, particularly in the heavyweight division. But for a big man, he wasn't very good at putting opponents away. For example, Joe Frazier finally silenced the motormouth.

   However, the wars with Frazier put to rest the myth that Ali couldn't, or wouldn't, stand up to punishment. He was indeed a warrior. I believe Ali and Frazier deserve equal respect.

   Muhammad Ali should be at the top. I respect him before all these great athletes.

5. Pelé

   

   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 Time's list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2000, Pelé was voted... read more

   His passion for football was everything. He only paid attention to what he needed to focus on.

   Pelé is the greatest footballer ever. He is a perfect gentleman, unlike Maradona.

6. Babe Ruth

   

   George Herman Ruth Jr., better known as Babe Ruth, was an American professional baseball player whose Major League Baseball career spanned 22 seasons from 1914 through 1935. He began his career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox before becoming a legendary slugger for the New York Yankees. Ruth is widely... read more

7. 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 and is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Gretzky also served as head coach of the Phoenix... read more

8. Derek Jeter

   

   Derek Sanderson Jeter (born June 26, 1974, in Pequannock Township, New Jersey) is an American former shortstop who played for the New York Yankees from 1995 to 2014. He is also a businessman and baseball executive.

   Jeter previously served as the chief executive officer and part owner of the Miami... read more

   Classiest act in baseball since Thurman Munson. Also high among the best all-around players ever, and the most stupefying shortstop of all time.

   Yes, I agree. Also, where is Mariano Rivera?

9. Peyton Manning

   

   Peyton Williams Manning is a former American football quarterback considered one of the greatest in NFL history. He played 18 seasons in the league, 14 with the Indianapolis Colts (1998-2011) and four with the Denver Broncos (2012-2015). Manning retired after leading the Broncos to a victory in Super... read more

10. Jackie Robinson

    

    Jack Roosevelt Robinson was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Jalen Duren

    
12. ?

    Cade McNamara

The Contenders

13. Lionel Messi

    

    Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi, born June 24, 1987, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer. Widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won eight Ballon d'Or awards and numerous domestic and international titles. He... read more

14. Jean Beliveau

    The perfect combination of class and leadership leading to 10 Stanley Cups. Even more impressive, his charity works helped so many thousands. Could have been Governor General of Canada but for his commitment to his family. Unique.

15. 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 is regarded as the highest statistical achievement in any major sport. His legacy continues to influence... read more

    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, which is 64 percent higher than the next best. He was so good that England had to create a new rule to get him out.

16. Sachin Tendulkar

    

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

    He's the highest run-scorer in the history of international cricket and was the first player to score 100 international centuries. Tendulkar received the Bharat Ratna,... read more

    Sachin Tendulkar had the best technique in cricket. He had a passion for the game.

    Sachin Tendulkar is the most respected cricketer all over the world.

    Sachin Tendulkar is a great and true legend of all time.

17. Kobe Bryant

    

    Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) was an American professional basketball player who played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He won five NBA championships with the Lakers and retired in 2016 as the franchise's all-time leading scorer.... read more

18. Ted Williams

    

    Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 - July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He spent his entire 19-year Major League Baseball career with the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960, primarily as a left fielder, though his career was interrupted by military service during... read more

    War hero and baseball superstar. That combination deserves everyone's respect.

19. Tom Brady

    

    Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League. Brady is known for being the only quarterback in history to win seven Super Bowls and is widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time... read more

    How can anyone with a three-digit IQ put Manning ahead of Brady? Look at the Super Bowls against the Seahawks as all the evidence you need. Peyton, with a vastly superior team to Brady's (on both sides of the ball), lost 42-8. Brady the following year beats them 28-24. Game, set, match for Brady.

20. LeBron James

    

    LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over his career, LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers. He has won four NBA championships.

    Talented, great, unique, and skillful player of all time.

21. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

    

    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American retired professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, a record he held from 1989 until it was surpassed in... read more

22. Shaquille O'Neal

    

    Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, known widely as Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player. He currently works as a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Renowned for his dominant presence on the court and his charismatic, approachable personality, O'Neal remains one of... read more

23. Usain Bolt

    

    Usain St Leo Bolt is a Jamaican retired sprinter widely considered the greatest sprinter of all time. He holds world records in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4 × 100 meters relay.

    An eight-time Olympic gold medalist, Bolt is the only sprinter to win both the 100 m and 200 m at three consecutive... read more

24. Manny Pacquiao

    

    Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao is a Filipino professional boxer and former politician who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is widely considered one of the greatest boxers in history. BoxRec has ranked him highly on their all-time pound-for-pound list.... read more

25. Nene

    

    Nenê is a Brazilian professional basketball player who previously played for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association. Born Maybyner Rodney Hilário, he legally changed his name to Nenê in 2003. Over his NBA career, he also played for the Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards.

26. Joe Ingles

    

27. Walter Payton

    

    Walter Jerry Payton was born on July 25, 1954, and died on November 1, 1999. He was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Nicknamed Sweetness, Payton is widely considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history... read more