Top 10 Greatest Athletes of All Time

This is not a list of the greatest players of all time, although many of the athletes on the list may have been great players. This is a list of the greatest athletes, which begs the question: what makes someone a great athlete?

For the purpose of this list, athletic greatness is defined as possessing a variety of attributes that contribute to athletic prowess. These include speed, quickness, endurance, power, and hand-eye coordination.

That is why this list does not prominently feature specialized athletes such as marathon runners or cyclists. While it is clear that Lance Armstrong is a master in his field, he has not proven that he could compete in other sports where more is required than pumping his thighs for hours on end.

The Top Ten

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.

There may be very few human beings who could keep up athletically with MJ (Bo Jackson, Carl Lewis, etc.). There are very few who might keep up with MJ's skill, coordination, and grace (Kobe Bryant, Zinedine Zidane, Roger Federer). There are even fewer who might be able to match his mental game and competitiveness (Tiger Woods, Larry Bird).
But there is no one - NO ONE - who has ever possessed all of these qualities at the level MJ did. The greatest athlete who ever lived - without a shadow of a doubt - is Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan is a widely recognized athlete all over the world. He has achieved many feats, including NBA Rookie of the Year, Slam Dunk Contest winner, six NBA championships, five NBA Most Valuable Player awards, two Olympic gold medals, a spot on the 1992 Dream Team, and appearances in thirteen All-Star Games. And that's still not all of his accomplishments.
He earned all of these in fourteen years in the NBA, which is unbelievable. There were few who could even come close to matching his fantastic abilities, like Larry Bird or Magic Johnson. Sure, there are rumors about Jordan having addictions to gambling, but they are all illegitimate. Jordan even tried baseball.
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

He is the most inspirational and most thrilling athlete of all time. If you judge his boxing career only by its first half, before being banned because of his opposition to killing another person of color for the sake of white men in Vietnam, you will see he is the greatest athlete of all time with all his athletic abilities such as speed, coordination, and accuracy.
If you judge him based on his entire career, you will see the most honorable, durable, skilled warrior in the boxing arena and outside, teaching us what is important and what is not. I think he is one of the prominent reasons why the world, and especially the U.S.A., is no longer as racist as it was in his childhood. He is the best sportsman. Most importantly, he is the definition of a man.
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

The most dominant athlete ever to emerge on the face of the Earth. The technical skills, the power, the agility, the look and understanding of the game, his often clinically perfect free kicks.
He was this dominant in the biggest sport worldwide with the fiercest competition. I have the utmost respect for Michael Jordan also participating in a team sport. But Maradona is the BEST ever. He is as close to God as you can get.

You guys always focus on US athletes and recognizing yours. In reality, the planet only recognizes those athletes who move the masses worldwide and, of course, the sport that is king of all, because everything else is just nonexistent.
And by the way, football is played with the feet. The whole planet knows it. Why don't you?
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

I'd suggest that anyone not familiar with track records, especially the 100m, take a look at what this man has accomplished (the first to break the 9.7 barrier and a month later the 9.6 barrier). You'll see why I already consider him the greatest athlete of the century, and perhaps of all time. They say he's capable of breaking his current record of 9.58, and if he does, look for it to become the longest-lasting track and field record ever.
I'm headed for bed after reaching #16, but I know one athlete who won't be listed, and he may be, as many have argued, the greatest athlete ever: Mikhail Baryshnikov. He has the same hang-time as M.J. - 0.9. I would list my top three as Babe Ruth, Tiger Woods, and Jim Brown, when you consider how great they were compared to the rest of their competition in their prime. In lesser-followed sports, there's no doubt that "Lightning" Bolt is #1.
Michael Phelps

Michael Fred Phelps II (born June 30, 1985) is an American former competitive swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals. He holds records for the most Olympic gold medals overall (23), in individual events (13), and total individual medals (16). Phelps won eight gold... read more

Most individual world titles of any athlete ever. Most world records. Most decorated Olympic athlete. Most gold medals. And he wins by wide margins.
Add to all that the fact that he made a huge personal comeback and continues to dominate well past the age when most athletes have retired. He does so multiple times a day for several days.
There is no dispute. It's a simple fact. He's the best. Opinions are irrelevant. Math and logic confirm it. The most winning athlete of all time is the best athlete of all time. Simple criteria. Why are we struggling with this?

This dude not only won, but he did so repeatedly for a very long time. Father Time never seemed to hit him. Even when he "retired," he came back and still won more golds. Speaking of golds, he won 23 of them. Not just medals, but gold medals. He also won various other medals as well.
There has never been a more dominant athlete in history. And in terms of athleticism, while he never trained for other sports, he would have been just fine if he did. His long, lanky arms and legs would have done well for him in other sports. Simply put, his body was built for sports.
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

Let's take a look at some important stats. He got his first thousand points the fastest ever and then got his next thousand the second-fastest ever. So, he is both the best and the second-best ice hockey player who ever lived, by an incredibly wide margin.
And if you watch clips of his games, it becomes questionable why he isn't the greatest athlete of all time. Statistically, even though he leads, he should be far more in first than he is. He would often skate the puck down the ice through an entire team before making a pass for an assist. He set up his teammates as often as he could, and if he hadn't, he would be by far the greatest athlete ever, statistically.
Bo Jackson

Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former professional baseball and American football player. He is the only athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Jackson became a cultural icon in the late 1980s and early 1990s through the popular "Bo... read more

Not only did he play in two professional sports, but he was also a superstar in both. On the baseball diamond, Bo had a career batting average of .250 and hit 141 home runs in just under 694 career games. In 1989, he was selected to the American League All-Star team and went on to win the game's MVP award.
And that doesn't count Bo's "hobby" sport. As a football player, Bo won the Sugar Bowl MVP award, the Liberty Bowl MVP award, and the Heisman Trophy. Then, when he decided to play pro football, he averaged 5.4 yards per carry for his short career and was named to the Pro Bowl team. At one time, Bo was in commercials with Jordan and Gretzky, and if it weren't for his career-ending hip injury, he would still be regarded as deserving of that type of company.
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

Without a doubt, Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player in the history of the sport. But his prowess is not only apparent in tennis. His records are incredible, and they probably won't be touched anytime soon.
What other athlete in any sport has dominated his or her sport the way Federer did in the 2000s? Now he is 30+, and he is still relevant in his sport, competing avidly against his younger competitors. Yes, his invincibility has lessened, but the fact that he is still considered a major contender even at such an old age is a testament to his ability and dedication to the game. He is also a class act outside the court. No one trumps Federer in the athletic department. No one. Period.
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

Ruth would have made the Hall of Fame as a pitcher, not to mention the fact that he revolutionized the game at the plate. Relative to his time and era, he was unparalleled as an athlete and transcended his sport and his era. It's laughable that he's only at #8. The fact is, he should be #1, and that's coming from a Chicago native who loves MJ.
Oh, and let's not get hung up on body type or lifestyle choices. Jordan was notorious for some of his questionable lifestyle choices during his career, and Charles Barkley was flat-out fat during much of his career. Nonetheless, MJ is considered to be the best basketball player ever, and Barkley is in the top 50.
Jim Thorpe

James Francis "Jim" Thorpe was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe became the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States. He excelled in multiple sports, including football, baseball, and track and field.

Please, enough of this MJ worship! The title of greatest basketball player is an acceptable choice, but this guy has never shown proficiency in any other sport! He was a minor league baseball flop, still has a laughable handicap in golf, and has never been known for lightning speed.
Unlike this one-sport star, Jim Thorpe, with little expert training or equipment, was voted into the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with the Track & Field Hall of Fame! Thorpe initially had no business playing Major League Baseball, but learned on the fly and finished with a respectable .252 batting average in seven part-time seasons. Jim Thorpe was successful in three sports to Jordan's one, doing this as an impoverished ward of the government and enduring untold racial bigotry. No athlete came so far with so little! He's Jim Brown, Jesse Owens, and Bo Jackson rolled into one. Hands down, he's the Greatest Athlete of All Time!

The Newcomers

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Coco Gauff

The only reason I have ever thought about tennis. Genuinely the greatest tennis player of all time, male or female.
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Franz Beckenbauer

Franz Anton Beckenbauer (born September 11, 1945, died January 7, 2024) was a German professional footballer and manager. Early in his playing career, he was nicknamed "Der Kaiser" because of his elegant style, dominance, and leadership on the field. His first name "Franz" also evokes the legacy of Austrian... read more

The greatest defender in football history. He won a World Cup as both a player and a manager, and he was the best defender to ever walk on the field. He may have been the best in every sport.

The Contenders

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

Awesome talent for sure. This guy stood out not only for his talent but also for captivating people with his skill set. I started watching soccer because of Pele and have yet to see anyone come close to his talent level on the field.
He reminds me of Bruce Lee with the ease with which he played the game. It came naturally to Pele, as fighting did to Bruce Lee. Pure and smooth best describe this icon. He's number 1 on my list.

The king of the most popular sport on the planet, football (soccer for those who don't know better), was respected and admired by billions around the globe long before athletes such as Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky became superstars of their respective sports, and still is to this day.
Pele should be #1 on this list, followed by Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, and Wayne Gretzky.
Tiger Woods

Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods, born on December 30, 1975, is an American professional golfer. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful golfers in history, with 15 major championship wins. Woods has also tied the record for the most PGA Tour victories, with 82 career wins.

If Tiger hadn't been injured for about four years, he would most likely be the greatest golfer of all time. But as of now, he is second in overall PGA Tour wins (81) and major title wins (15). But I think he could possibly be better than Jack. When he got his 71st win, statistics showed that Tiger won 30% of the tournaments he entered. Knowing how hard it is to do that against other big talents like Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson makes it even more impressive.
If you disagree that he is the greatest golfer ever, look at some of his victories. He won a couple of his tournaments by over 10 shots. Some of these wins might have been lucky because the other competitors missed some easy putts, but that was because they were pressured by Tiger. Try golf out for yourselves, and see some of Tiger's greatest shots, and you will start to believe that Tiger is not just possibly the greatest golfer of all time, but possibly one of the greatest and most dominant athletes ever.
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.

Should be higher on this list. He is the most athletic person to ever set foot on this planet. Hear me out. I get that MJ is the greatest NBA player ever, but do you people realize how physically dominant LeBron James is? He is a human wrecking ball. He's huge. He can overpower anyone, even 7-foot centers.
He can run the point guard position better than any point guard. He is the only player to ever be able to competitively play all five positions. The fact that he is out of the top 10, in my opinion, is crazy. He should be in the top 5 with Jordan, Ali, Bolt, and Phelps. He doesn't get enough credit. This man is the most physically dominant human ever created. That's a fact.
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

Come on, man, why is this guy not number 1? He had to prove his worth his entire career against someone equally skilled in many different ways while dealing with size issues and supposed dribbling limitations. And yet, his dribbling is insane. That Maradona recreation against Getafe was amazing.
He was undeniably called the GOAT for a reason. He won the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey. He even won the Spanish treble (all three of these trophies in the same season). A deadly winger in the MSN combination and many others before that, he carried Barcelona after the MSN era ended until he was let go because the club couldn't afford his wages (after spending 200 million dollars on flops). He then moved to PSG.
By that point, he had already secured his GOAT status. He elevated it further when he won the Copa América and later the World Cup, silencing critics who said he hadn't won an international trophy. Some people even claimed the tournament was rigged. It wasn't.
And after all that, he's still not in the top 10? He's literally called an alien by some people.
Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee (November 27, 1940 - July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, instructor, actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and philosopher. He founded Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy that influenced modern mixed martial arts (MMA). Lee is widely considered one of the... read more

When I hear about Bruce, he sounds like a mythical man, like someone from thousands of years ago, such as Alexander the Great or Genghis Khan.
But he was just before I was born. I was born in 1980. For me, he is the best athlete who ever lived, or at least since the invention of the camera in the last 200 years. And that's all that matters, really.

When he was alive, people already knew there would never be another Bruce Lee. So the very instant he passed away, it was traumatic for the world, as people knew there'd never be another Bruce Lee.
Best athlete and man.
Wilt Chamberlain

Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia and died on October 12, 1999, in Los Angeles due to heart failure. He was 63 years old at the time of his death.... read more

The only big man to lead the NBA in assists, his rebounding and shot-blocking were exceptional. I know they didn't record shot-blocking for most of his career. He also blocked shots that remained in play instead of going into the stands, so the other team kept control of the ball.
Rebounding was not only great, but his ability to block other players so his teammates could get rebounds is almost never talked about. His scoring is discussed, but not that during his season when he averaged 50 points per game. If he scored only 27 points in one game (what was LeBron James's average last season that makes him so great?), he would have to score 73 points just to reach his average!
I know we do not compare centers with other positions or the era in which they played, but who has done it better? Please be specific with numbers. I know he didn't win many titles, but he did when given teammates who could actually affect a game. Does anybody remember 1972 when Wilt and the Lakers won 33 games in a row? Or 68 wins for the season? I know the Bulls won 69, but they played more games than the Lakers did in '72.
Joe Montana

Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana Jr., nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "The Comeback Kid," is a retired American football quarterback. He is best known for his time with the San Francisco 49ers, where he led the team to four Super Bowl championships. Montana is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks... read more

Joe is the better QB over Brady. Brady has had 260 regular-season starts with the Pats, and Joe had only 139 starts with the 49ers. Joe was perfect in Super Bowls, going 4-0 with no lost fumbles and 11 touchdowns with no interceptions. That's like having four perfect Don Larsen World Series games.
If he could have had 260 starts with the 49ers, he would have won more Super Bowls than Brady, bank on it. Plus, Brady has three losses in Super Bowls, which Joe does not have. In the '88-'90 playoffs, he threw 22 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.

Montana was known as a limited athlete. He didn't have a rifle arm, nor was he Tarkenton or Vick when running. If this is about athleticism, no. If this is about winning and being the best at your craft, yes.
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

After the Super Bowl LI comeback, Brady won his fifth Super Bowl (most of all time) and became a four-time Super Bowl MVP (most of all time). After this historic win, he's the greatest of all time in all sports, not just football. I've watched him play ever since he got drafted. After watching him win all five of his Super Bowls, he's the greatest athlete to ever walk the Earth.
He's going to keep winning more titles, especially a sixth Super Bowl. The rest is pretty much self-explanatory. Love him or hate him, he's the GOAT for real. There's no question about it anymore. You can't dream of a career like his. There won't ever be someone better than Tom Brady.

I know many people hate him, but what other athlete has accomplished so much over so long a period of time in a sport that is designed not to let you stay on top because of the salary cap?
There are some amazing athletes on the list above him, but none of them played in such a challenging and competitive system that makes racking up championships repeatedly so hard. I really think this guy deserves his due as the best athlete ever.
Jim Brown

James Nathaniel Brown (February 17, 1936 to May 18, 2023) was an American professional football player and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 1957 to 1965. Brown led the league in rushing yards eight times, was selected to the Pro Bowl every year of his career, earned... read more

104.3 yards per game. Zero NFL games missed. 5.22 yards per carry. Led the NFL in rushing eight of his nine seasons, and the season he didn't finish first, he played most of the season with a broken arm.
Enough said. Greatest NFL player of all time and was so dominant in lacrosse that they made a rule after him (having a crease around the goal). Former NFL players have been on record saying that at age 50, he could still win the MVP in the NFL.

Not only was he one of the greatest football players of all time, but he was perhaps the greatest lacrosse player of all time too. And he could play basketball and baseball well enough to attract the pro scouts.
Jesse Owens

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 to March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete and a four-time gold medalist in the 1936 Olympic Games. He specialized in sprints and the long jump and was regarded in his lifetime as perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in the history... read more

If ever there was an athlete worthy of the title athlete, it was Jesse Owens. At the Berlin Olympics in 1936, he not only ran for America, he ran for the whole free world against Nazi Germany - and beat them all.
Hitler was so incensed that he refused to congratulate him at the podium and stormed out of the games.

Owens held or shared the 100-meter world record for 20 years and also held the long jump world record for 25 years! As much as I like Usain Bolt and admire his fabulous times, it is hard to put Bolt ahead of Owens.

In 1936, Jesse Owens won four gold medals in Germany, a country ruled by the face of evil (Hitler), who thought the Aryan race was superior. Jesse Owens overcame all the obstacles facing him and brought home the gold.
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

This guy is nothing less than GOD. He has shown me how to live life and what the meaning of passion, hard work, and consistency is.
I bet no athlete can ever match his hunger to excel and perform at the same level, fulfilling his responsibilities in the same manner he had when he started 22 years ago, beginning his international career at just age 16.
For all those guys who don't vote for him because you don't know much about him, at whatever level you adore other athletes in this list, do learn more about him. I bet you'll slowly fall in love with a true gentleman or maybe even at first look.

Sachin Tendulkar is the best athlete in a ridiculous number of ways. One of the reasons is his sportsmanship. Sachin is an extremely modest and humble man. He never argued on the cricket field and wouldn't boast about his achievements. He wouldn't even smile unless he had contributed to the team.
He led from the front on countless occasions. Especially in a mental game like cricket, it's difficult to stay at the top for so long. For 24 years, Sachin Tendulkar remained at the top of the game. People worship and love him all around the world. No one else on this list has gone through what Tendulkar has, played for nearly as long as him, or represented a nation with as much integrity as he did. There will never be another man like Sachin Tendulkar.
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

It is crazy how biased these results are toward American sports. Don Bradman is the only athlete ever to be statistically twice as good as the rest of his era! Even decades later, the next best averages are around 40% lower.
And for your information, Americans, India alone makes cricket a more widely played sport than your basketball, baseball, and NFL. Not to mention the hundreds of millions in other Commonwealth countries. Bottom line is, if you did your research, you would find it hard to argue against Bradman, whose hand-eye coordination is so far ahead of anyone else ever to have lived, including Federer.
And if you were going to argue against Bradman, it could only be with Bruce Lee. As a purely physical specimen, no one could match him. He would have kicked Ali's arse in a boxing match blindfolded, and you know it.
Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (born February 5, 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and captains the Portugal national team. He has collected five prestigious Ballon d'Or awards and countless major trophies over his storied career... read more

Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to be in the top 15 of this list. For me, he is the most complete football player of all time. He has won 3 Golden Balls, 4 Golden Boots, and many other individual awards. He has also won many trophies with his teams.
He was part of a historic Manchester United team where he won the UEFA Champions League, the Barclays Premier League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and many other trophies. Currently, Cristiano is 31 years old and he is already the top scorer in the history of Real Madrid, the top scorer for the Portugal national team, the top scorer of the UEFA Champions League, and the top scorer of the UEFA Euro.
Many coaches have said that Cristiano is something different. Ronaldo has worked with great managers through the years like Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manuel Pellegrini, Luiz Felipe Scolari, and Rafael Benitez, and all of them have fond memories of the Portuguese superstar. He is surely one of the best, if not the best.
Rafael Nadal

Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera is a Spanish professional tennis player. As of July 2025, he has won a record 22 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history, especially known for his dominance on clay courts.

If anyone knows how to get back up after getting knocked down in this ultra-competitive world of modern tennis, it's him. He went 7 months without playing due to injury in the second half of 2012 and then came back with full force in 2013 to win a couple of Slams and many other titles, even in the midst of a highly competitive group featuring Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray, along with many upcoming young talents.
Before all of that, we all know how ridiculously good he was as a teenager, beating even the great Federer so many times so early in his career, resulting in such a one-sided head-to-head record in the Fedal rivalry.
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

Manny should be the greatest athlete of all time because he is the most well-rounded champion and person. He's a 10-time champion in 8 different weight divisions in his profession. He's always humble with his achievements. He's charismatic on both a professional and personal level. He's always entertaining and exciting. He always thinks of those who are less fortunate in life and always uses his successes to directly help better those people and everyone around him. Other athletes may be leaders, champions, or icons of their respective teams or sports, but Manny is a leader and icon for a nation and for the less fortunate of the world. Manny is the "true" champion of the people. This is what differentiates Manny from the rest of all those other champions.