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.
Football
12.
Rafael Nadal
Tennis
11.
Novak Djokovic
Tennis
10Kobe Bryant
Basketball

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

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’ 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’ 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

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

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

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.
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

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’ 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
