Top 10 Athletes of 21st Century Named

Top 10 Athletes of 21st Century Named

Top-10-Athletes-of-21st-Century-Named

ESPN have released their final list of the top 100 athletes of the 21st century. Voted for by over 70,000 ESPN contributors, the top 100 has been officially decided. Those who took part in the voting were instructed to only consider the achievements of the athletes from the year 2000 onwards. As well as this, the list is not limited to any gender or sport, resulting in a list filled with variety and talent.

With such a deep pool of athletes to choose from, there are undoubtedly some highly prolific athletes who have missed out on the top 10. Some of these names include the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, and Rafael Nadal. However, the following list of names has been considered the best among voters.

ESPN’s Top 100 Athletes (11-25)

Position
Name
Sport

25.
Floyd Mayweather
Boxing

24.
Albert Pujols
Baseball

23.
Kevin Garnett
Basketball

22.
Sidney Crosby
Hockey

21.
Diana Taurasi
Basketball

20.
Aaron Donald
Football

19.
Lewis Hamilton
Formula 1

18.
Patrick Mahomes
NFL

17.
Shaquille O’Neal
Basketball

16.
Tim Duncan
Basketball

15.
Katie Ledecky
Swimming

14.
Stephen Curry
Basketball

13.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Football

12.
Rafael Nadal
Tennis

11.
Novak Djokovic
Tennis

10Kobe Bryant

Basketball

Kobe Bryant

Considered one of the greatest athletes to step on the court, Kobe Bryant is considered one of the best basketball players of all time and is considered an icon of the sport. The Basketball Hall of Famer’s career spanned from 1996-2016, spending his entire career at the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his playing career, Bryant was one of the highest-achieving basketball players of all time. Among his accolades include the likes of being a five-time NBA champion, an 18-time NBA All-Star, and the 2008 NBA MVP. A heartbreaking helicopter crash in 2020 would lead to the passing of Bryant, however, his career inspired those all across the world and his legacy will be remembered forever.

Kobe Bryant’s career stats

Games played
1,346

Free-throw percentage
.837

Rebounds per game
5.2

Assists per game
4.7

Points per game
25.0

9Usain Bolt

Athletics

Usain Bolt

Jamaican track star Usain Bolt became one of the most prolific Olympians of all time in the 21st century. His record-breaking speeds cemented his legacy as a household name all across the world. Among his vast achievements, Bolt attained eight Olympic gold medals, competing in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. As well as his gold medals, Bolt also earned the world record for the 100m at the age of just 21. As well as this, Usain Bolt is the only sprinter to win gold in both the 100m and 200m categories.

Usain Bolt’s Olympics record

Olympics
Event
Medal

2008 Beijing
100m
Gold

2008 Beijing
100m
Gold

2012 London
100m
Gold

2012 London
200m
Gold

2012 London
4x100m relay
Gold

2016 Rio
100m
Gold

2016 Rio
200m
Gold

2016 Rio
4x100m relay
Gold

8Tiger Woods

Golf

Tiger Woods with a golf ball in hand One of the most iconic names in the golfing world belongs to Tiger Woods. A lengthy and record-breaking career has earned the American his place on the list, turning professional in 1996. Woods has done it all when it comes to golfing achievements. He is a 13-time major champion in the likes of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021, Tiger Woods will be remembered by sports fans for decades.

Tiger Woods’ best results at Majors (as of 19/07/24)

Competition
Result

The Masters
Won: 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019

PGA Championship
Won: 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007

US Open
Won: 2000, 2002, 2008

The Open
Won: 2000, 2005, 2006

7Simone Biles

Gymnastics

Simone Biles The youngest name in the top 10 of this list belongs to Simone Biles. The gymnast from the US is currently 27. However, Biles won her first national title in 2013, aged just 16. Three years later, she made history, earning four Olympic gold medals in Rio de Janeiro, the joint-most by a female gymnast in a single Games. Another bronze medal in 2016 as well as silver and bronze in 2020 would make Biles a seven-time medalist aged just 23. Despite her age, Simone Biles is already considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.

Simone Biles’ Olympics record

Olympics
Event
Medal

2016 Rio
Team
Gold

2016 Rio
All-around
Gold

2016 RIo
Vault
Gold

2016 Rio
Floor exercise
Gold

2016 Rio
Balance beam
Bronze

2020 Tokyo
Team
Silver

2020 Tokyo
Balance beam
Bronze

6Roger Federer

Tennis

Roger Federer waves to the crowd.

Besting the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray, Roger Federer is the only men’s tennis player in the top 10. The Swiss turned professional in 1998 and is one of the most decorated tennis players to ever step on the court. He boasts an incredible 82% winning percentage in over 1,500 professional matches. Among his accomplishments include being a 20-time major champion, including eight Wimbledon titles, making him the most successful man in Wimbledon history.

Roger Federer’s best Grand Slam results

Competition
Result

Australian Open
Won: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018

French Open
Won: 2009

Wimbledon
Won: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017

US Open
Won: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

5Tom Brady

American Football

Tom Brady Patriots Hall of Fame

The most successful man in Super Bowl history is Tom Brady. The American holds an impressive seven championship rings, as well as being Super Bowl MVP five times. Spending the majority of his career with the New England Patriots, Brady’s stint there lasted from 2000-2019. This was then followed by two years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Other noteworthy accomplishments of Brady include three NFL MVP awards, as well as being a 15-time Pro Bowler.

Tom Brady’s regular season career stats

Games played
335

Record
251-82

Passes completed
7,753

Passes attempted
12,050

Passing touchdowns
649

4LeBron James

Basketball

Lakers star LeBron James

Basketball icon LeBron James is the highest-ranking athlete of his sport on the ESPN list. Still active, his NBA career has seen him compete for the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and, currently, the Los Angeles Lakers. Currently in the 21st year of his professional career, just some of his key accomplishments include the likes of being a four-time NBA champion, a 20-time All-Star, and the all-time scoring leader in the NBA. All across the world, James is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time alongside Michael Jordan.

LeBron James’ career stats (as of 19/07/24)

Games played
1,492

Free-throw percentage
.736

Rebounds per game
7.5

Assists per game
7.4

Points per game
27.1

3Lionel Messi

Football

Lionel Messi kisses the coveted World Cup after leading his country to victory in Qatar.

The only football player to break the top 10 of the list is none other than Lionel Messi. The most decorated footballer of all time has added to his trophy cabinet every year since 2005. Spending the vast majority of his club career at FC Barcelona, Messi is a 10-time La Liga champion from his time in Spain. Representing his national team, Messi has brought international success to Argentina. Two Copa Americas (2021,2024), an Olympic Gold Medal (2008) and a World Cup have made him one of the best footballers of all time. In terms of individual achievements, Messi has secured eight Ballons d’Or, the most of any player.

Lionel Messi’s international career (as of 19/07/24)

Argentina caps
187

Argentina goals
109

Argentina assists
58

Argentina honours
World Cup (x1), Copa America (x2), Olympic Gold Medal (x1)

2Serena Williams

Tennis

Serena Williams One of the most decorated tennis players of all time, Serena Williams, earned the second spot out of 100 athletes. The highest-ranking woman on the list is a sporting icon and will go down as one of the most influential women in all of sport. Williams is a 23-time major champion, the second-most of any tennis player. As well as a total of 73 titles across her professional career. Retiring in 2022, her 27-year career would change the sporting world forever.

Serena Williams’ best Grand Slam results

Competition
Result

Australian Open
Won: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017

French Open
Won: 2002, 2013, 2015

Wimbledon
Won: 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016

US Open
Won: 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014

1Michael Phelps

Swimming

Michael Phelps

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