Top 10 Greatest Athletes of All Time | Ranked

From Tennis to European football, we are lucky to have witnessed some of the top professionals in their respective sports over many years now. Determining the greatest athletes of all time is all about folks who have not only graced with their excellence in their respective sports but have also left a great mark on the world of athletics.To rank the top 10 greatest athletes of all time, we have used a weighted method, ensuring our article stands out from those biased articles circulating on the internet, which often lack metrics and are based solely on favoritism. To evaluate players like Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, Lionel Messi, and Muhamed Ali, we have used the weighted method.

The weights are as follows: 25% for major titles won, 25% for individual records, 25% for awards and honors, 20% for longevity and consistency, and 5% for cultural and social influence. The factors ensure that it adopts a balanced approach and evaluates both quantifiable achievements and social impact. Our list of the Top 10 greatest athletes includes players from every domain of the sport, like basketball to track, tennis to soccer, and football. These athletes have reshaped excellence through exceptional performance, dominating their sports, shattering records, and securing prestigious accolades, solidifying their legacies as among the greatest athletes of all time or simply the GOATs.

Greatest Athletes of All Time – Top 10 Comprehensive Table

The world of sports is vast, with countless athletes shaping its legacy. Not making the top 10 greatest athletes list doesn’t diminish a star’s or sport’s value; their fan base and recognition may simply be less prominent compared to others. Here is Sportsdunia’s list of the top 10 best athletes of all time, which answers the question – who is the greatest athlete of all time?

How We Ranked the Greatest Sportsman of All Time

Major Titles Won: This looks at how many major titles a player has won in the entirety of his career. The number of major titles represents the player’s ability to perform at the highest level multiple times. For example, lots of Grand Slams in tennis or Super Bowls in football means they’re a top performer in high-pressure moments.

Individual Records: To make sure that people don’t raise questions on the list based on the first metric, we have given individual awards a 25% weightage. This counts records an athlete set, like the fastest 100-meter run or the most soccer goals. Breaking records proves they did something amazing that no one else did.

Awards & Honors: This metric looks into the awards and honours earned by a player during his tenure, like MVP or Player of the Year. These show others, like coaches, players, or media, think the athlete is great. Winning many awards means they stayed competitive and at the peak for a long time, and earned tons of respect.

Longevity & Consistency: This checks for how much time a player stayed at the top in their respective sport. Playing at a top level for many years shows they’re tough and adaptable. For example, a tennis player shining for 20 years proves they’re built for lasting success.

Cultural & Social Influence: At last, we have cultural and social influence, a metric with the least weightage but high importance. This metric helped us a lot in choosing the best players and which sport to include in the list. Sports with huge fan followings and their best players always have an impact on the people who directly or indirectly connect with the sport. For eg, Cristiano Ronaldo set the example that it’s not necessary to have talent to shine in the sport, if you have the determination, you can achieve the summit easily.

Greatest Athletes of All Time – Individual Profiles

Below are the individual profiles of the best athletes of all time. These icons have redefined greatness with unmatched performances, breaking societal barriers, setting records, earning a number of honors, and establishing themselves as the finest in sports history.

1. Michael Jordan

Micahel is widely known as the finest basketball player in history. His unmatched set of skills and competitive drive has led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s. Jordan’s influence extended way beyond the court, elevating global popularity and inspiring countless athletes in the NBA.

2. Virat Kohli

Taking the attention towards the cricketing world. If there is one name that many countries fear the most, it is the India’s very own Virat Kohli. Among lot of his quality attributes, he is especially known for his aggressive approach in the games along with delivering in the biggest stages internationally and domestically.

Be it the test cricket or T-20s, cricketing fans all over the world are lucky enough to witness the magic of Virat Kohli’s class with batting and captaincy.

3. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is as popular as La Pulga. In the World of Football, he is the only player who have won it all. The Argentine has won the Ballon d’Or 7 times, surpassing his fierce competition Cristiano Ronaldo.

From his vision in the field to his unmatched dribbling and goal-scoring abilities, he has earned himself numerous accolades over the years. From the Camp Nou stadium to now in Inter Miami, his journey with football is nothing shorter than a masterpiece of an artist. La Pulga has a massive fan following in every corner of the world.

4. Usain Bolt

You have surely heard the name of the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt. Since you have, you also know that he is the fastest man alive who has dominated the sprinting events, holding records in the 100m and 200m. His charismatic personality and unprecedented speed have made him a worldwide icon in athletics.

5. Novak Djokovic

We steer the attention towards Tennis this time. This list of top 10 athletes in the world is incomplete without the number 1 tennis player of the world, Novak Djokovic. The Serbian professional tennis player has reached the heights many players have dreamed of. When asked about the secret towards his successful career, the player always pointed out the support of his family.

6. Tom Brady

When the conversation is about American Football, Tom Brady is the name that will be in every discussion. He is considered the greatest quarterback in NFL history, with a record seven Super Bowl victories. His longevity and consistent high-level performance have set new standards in professional football.

7. Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is known as the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 28 medals, including 23 golds. The swimmer’s dominance in the pool across various events and Olympics is unparalleled.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo

If there is one athlete who is the inspiration of a generation, it is CR7. Cristiano’s athleticism, goal-scoring prowess, and versatility have made him one of the greatest in football. He is a true example of dedication and discipline.

Both Cristiano and Messi have shared the top stage of Football for over a decade. To this day, it is talked about among the fans across the world and surely the rivalry will be in the history pages forever.

With five Ballon d’Or awards and many titles across the top leagues of Europe, his impact on the sport is profound. As of right now, he is the top scorer across all football competitions.

9. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is the name that revolutionized golf with his unprecedented success and popularity. With 15 major championships, he is second only to Jack Nicklaus, and his influence has brought a new audience to the sport.

While certain footballers had to hang his boots to make a name in golf, there is Tiger Woods, who has taken golf to new heights.

10. Muhammad Ali

Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee! You must have heard this phrase at a certain time in your life. That is Muhammad Ali for you.

As Mike Tyson said, every head must bow down to the greatest of all time. And he was and still is the goat of boxing. Muhammad Ali’s natural record is unmatched to this day. His final record is 56 wins and 5 losses with 37 knockouts. He is the boxing immortal!

So, these are the top 10 greatest athletes of all time. From football to golf, these names have led by example and taken their sport to the highest of heights in their tenure.