Top 10 Greatest European Athletes of All Time
Here are some of Europe's best athletes. And don't add people like Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, or Walter Payton because they're good, because they aren't from Europe.The Top Ten
Janica Kostelić (Croatia)
Dražen Petrović (Croatia)
Paavo Nurmi (Finland)
One of the greatest Olympians with a total of 12, 9 of them gold.
Sergei Kharkov (Russia)
The greatest European athlete of all time hands down.
Lev Yashin (Soviet Union)
Lev Ivanovich Yashin, nicknamed the "Black Spider" or the "Black Panther," was a Soviet-Russian football goalkeeper, considered by many to be the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the game.
He remains the only goalkeeper to have ever won the Ballon d'Or, receiving the award in 1963.
Lev Ivanovich Yashin, nicknamed the "Black Spider" or the "Black Panther," was a Soviet-Russian football goalkeeper, considered by many to be the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the game.
He remains the only goalkeeper to have ever won the Ballon d'Or, receiving the award in 1963.
Björn Borg (Sweden)
Björn Rune Borg is a Swedish former professional tennis player who was ranked world No. 1 during his career. He won 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including six French Opens and five consecutive Wimbledon titles between 1976 and 1980. Borg retired in 1983 at the age of 26 and remains a prominent figure... read more
Björn Rune Borg is a Swedish former professional tennis player who was ranked world No. 1 during his career. He won 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including six French Opens and five consecutive Wimbledon titles between 1976 and 1980. Borg retired in 1983 at the age of 26 and remains a prominent figure... read more
Martina Navratilova (Czechoslovakia)
Martina Navratilova is a retired tennis player and coach who holds both Czech and American citizenship. She was born on October 18, 1956, in Prague and became a U.S. citizen in 1981, later regaining Czech citizenship in 2008. Navratilova won 59 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles,... read more
Martina Navratilova is a retired tennis player and coach who holds both Czech and American citizenship. She was born on October 18, 1956, in Prague and became a U.S. citizen in 1981, later regaining Czech citizenship in 2008. Navratilova won 59 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles,... read more
Roger Federer (Switzerland)
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... read more
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... read more
Sergei Fedorov (Russia)
Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel (18 November 1963) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper in 1992 and 1993. He is best remembered for his most successful years at English club Manchester United, whom he captained to the 1999... read more
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel (18 November 1963) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper in 1992 and 1993. He is best remembered for his most successful years at English club Manchester United, whom he captained to the 1999... read moreThe Newcomers
? Phil Taylor (England)
? Inge de Bruijn (Netherlands)
The Contenders
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
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.
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. One of the greatest soccer players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has great finishing, skills, and has won a lot of trophies. He was a key factor in Portugal winning the Euros in 2016 and a lot of the Champions Leagues that he won with Real Madrid. He was also very skilled during his time in Manchester United and very underrated during his time in Juventus
One of the best modern day European Athletes.
Yelena Isinbaeva (Russia)
Hannes Reichelt (Austria)
Nadia Comăneci (Romania)
Nadia Elena Comăneci is a Romanian retired gymnast. She is a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events.
In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci became the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games. At the same Games (the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal),... read more
Nadia Elena Comăneci is a Romanian retired gymnast. She is a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events.In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci became the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games. At the same Games (the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal),... read more
Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
Hendrik Johannes "Johan" Cruijff (25 April 1947 – 24 March 2016) was a Dutch professional football player and coach. As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Cruyff was a proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football explored by Rinus Michels, and is... read more
Hendrik Johannes "Johan" Cruijff (25 April 1947 – 24 March 2016) was a Dutch professional football player and coach. As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Cruyff was a proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football explored by Rinus Michels, and is... read more Johann Cruyiff is consideredly one of the best football players of all time. He was a a very elegant, clever player and brings his own style to the boggest game.
Best European soccer player ever.
Alina Tsviliy (Ukraine)
Rafael Nadal (Spain)
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.
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.
Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
Larisa Latynina (Soviet Union)
Holger Nielsen (Denmark)
Holger Louis Nielsen (18 December 1866 in Copenhagen - 26 January 1955 in Hellerup) was a Danish fencer, sport shooter, and athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens.
He is probably best known for drawing up the first set of rules for the game of handball.
Holger Louis Nielsen (18 December 1866 in Copenhagen - 26 January 1955 in Hellerup) was a Danish fencer, sport shooter, and athlete. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens.
He is probably best known for drawing up the first set of rules for the game of handball.
Aleksandr Karelin (Russia)
Zinedine Zidane (France)
Zinedine Yazid Zidane, nicknamed "Zizou," (born 23 June 1972) is a French former professional football player who played as an attacking midfielder.
He received many individual accolades as a player, including being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003, as well as winning... read more
Zinedine Yazid Zidane, nicknamed "Zizou," (born 23 June 1972) is a French former professional football player who played as an attacking midfielder.He received many individual accolades as a player, including being named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003, as well as winning... read more
Kim Clijsters (Belgium)
Leonid Taranenko (Soviet Union)
The Bellarussian weightlifter is still (from 1988) the strongest man in the world.
Max Schmeling (Germany)
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