Lionel Messi ranks above Cristiano Ronaldo with Lewis Hamilton highest Brit as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fail to make elite list

Lionel Messi ranked above Cristiano Ronaldo in a poll to determine the best 21st century athlete.

The Argentina captain may be revered all over the world for his wizardry but he missed out on top spot despite being the highest placed footballer on the list.

Messi steered Argentina to a third-consecutive major international tournament win
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Messi steered Argentina to a third-consecutive major international tournament winCredit: Getty
The poll, conducted by US-based outlet ESPN, garnered more than 70,000 votes as its audience ranked their favourites based on their heroics since 2000.

Sadly for British sport, just one athlete made the cut while 56 American stars ranked within the top 100.

Basketball was the big winner with 24 names placed on the list. Baseball saw 17 entrants with soccer boasting 15.

Football fans will be surprised by Messi’s placing after securing his second Copa America title in July and his staggering impact on US sport since arriving at Inter Miami a year ago.

However, two star names from the world of sport pipped the 37-year-old to the post with tennis star Serena Williams taking second place and Michael Phelps reigning supreme.

Williams dominated the women’s game, winning a staggering 23 Grand Slam titles during her glittering career.

Swimming legend Phelps, won a record 28 Olympic medals with 23 of them gold, over five different games.

Messi finished ten places ahead of long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo who came 13th with NBA legend LeBron James (fourth), Tom Brady (fifth) and Tiger Woods (eighth) all ranking above the Portuguese.

Ronaldo’s placing will not sit well with his millions of devoted fans who claim the star is the greatest player of all time.

The only British athlete to be named in the top 100 is Lewis Hamilton, whose joint-record seven Formula One titles placed him in 19th.

Messi's long-time rival Ronaldo was ranked ten places behind the Argentine in 13th
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Messi’s long-time rival Ronaldo was ranked ten places behind the Argentine in 13thCredit: Getty

Phelps' 28 Olympic medals handed him top spot in the poll
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Phelps’ 28 Olympic medals handed him top spot in the pollCredit: Getty

Seven-time Wimbledon singles champion Serena Williams took second place
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Seven-time Wimbledon singles champion Serena Williams took second placeCredit: Getty

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was the only British entrant in 19th place
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Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was the only British entrant in 19th place

AJ and Fury were surprisingly left out of the top 100 by ESPN readers
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AJ and Fury were surprisingly left out of the top 100 by ESPN readersCredit: GETTY
There was no such luck for former world heavyweight boxing champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua who were were unable to make the list.

The next highest-placing footballer was Brazil women’s star Marta (32nd) who claimed the World Player of the Year award on sixoccasions.

She ranked ahead of players such as Thierry Henry (48th), Zinedine Zidane (50th) and Kylian Mbappe (65th).

The top 25 athletes since 2000 as voted for by ESPN readers

1) Michael Phelps

2) Serena Williams

3) Lionel Messi

4) LeBron James

5) Tom Brady

6) Roger Federer

7) Simone Biles

8) Tiger Woods

9) Usain Bolt

10) Kobe Bryant

11) Novak Djokovic

12) Rafael Nadal

13) Cristiano Ronaldo

14) Steph Curry

15) Katie Ledecky

16) Tim Duncan

17) Shaquille O’Neal

18) Patrick Mahomes

19) Lewis Hamilton

20) Aaron Donald

21) Diana Taurasi

22) Sidney Crosby

23) Kevin Garnett