Top 10 All-Time Athletes

Sport is a spectacle which we love so profoundly due to the extremities of talent and athleticism which are on display. This attempts to pick ten of the best in the world’s sports.

Some sports have not been covered, but the most watched sports on planet Earth have been, and the being the best in the best sport is much more impressive than anything.

Credit: Fanny Schertzer

10. Eddy Merckx - Cycling

When researching the most successful athletes of each sport, choosing the most successful cyclist was not something that was envisaged. Eddy Merckx was remarkably successful though, earning an unequalled eleven Grand Tours (five Tours de France, five Giros d'Italia, and a Vuelta a España).

Merckx was successful on track and road, so the nickname “The Cannibal” is fitting. The Belgian also became the first to win Cycling’s triple crown. He is universally regarded as the greatest and most successful rider in the history of cycling. No more needs to be said.

9. Roger Federer - Tennis

This instantly names Federer as the greatest tennis player ever, at least by the reckoning of this list. Roger Federer had a remarkable dominance period and longevity, and the Swiss star was astonishingly strong during the pinnacle of men’s tennis with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who are respectively greats.

Federer was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the ATP for 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks, and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. Federer amassed 20 major men's singles titles which includes a record eight men's singles Wimbledon titles, and an Open Era joint-record five men's singles US Open titles, and six year-end championships.

Novak Djokovic’s startling career is not over, but Roger Federer is the current tennis great. It is such a closely competitive sport and the athleticism of the big three (sorry Andy Murray) is something to behold.

8. Lewis Hamilton – Motorsport

Tied with Michael Schumacher, Hamilton has seven world championships, and has been desperately unlucky on two occasions not to have an eighth. He has a record of 103 wins and is regarded as one of the greatest motor racers of all time in any category.

Hamilton has amassed some of the most iconic moments in the sport and has an everlasting influence on the drivers, and it could be argued he is bigger than the sport.

Lewis Hamilton has often spoke against issues in Formula One in relation to a lack of diversity in the sport, and as the only black driver to ever race in the sport, he has worked hard at giving greater opportunities in a money-rich sport.

7. Michael Phelps – Swimming

Why would you not include the most decorated Olympian of all time? The greatest most successful with a total of 28 medals and also the all-time record for Olympic gold medals (23).

Phelps unquestionably encapsulates the mentality of elite sportsmen, ruthless and dedicated. He never left a stone unturned and was fiercely determined to win again and again.

Phelps’ greatest success was at the 2008 Beijing games, where he won eight gold medals. He has to be in the conversation.

6. Usain Bolt - Sprinter

It is probably slightly confusing to put Bolt ahead of Phelps who is the more successful sportsperson, but Bolt has an undeniable aura.

Bolt holds the world record in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 metre relay. Still. Considering advancements in sports science, that just amplifies how good the Jamaican was.

He had to hold off plenty of talented rivals on the way to eight Olympic golds and 11 World Championship golds, an astonishing amount of dominance in such a competitive sport.

5. Lebron James – Basketball

The first currently active sportsperson on this list, Lebron is regarded as one of Basketball’s greatest in the NBA.

James is a  4× NBA champion, 4× NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020), 4× NBA Most Valuable Player, NBA In-Season Tournament champion (2023), NBA In-Season Tournament MVP (2023) 19× NBA All-Star (2005–2023), 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP, 13× All-NBA First Team (2006, 2008–2018, 2020), 3× All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2007, 2021) 3× All-NBA Third Team (2019, 2022, 2023).

So yes, one of the greatest. When the stats tell the story, there is no need to expand.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo – Football

The most iconic and revered footballer ever, CR7 is one of the most famous people on the planet. He also turns out to be the greatest goal-scorer in the history of the game and have a truckload of trophies to go with it.

Ronaldo has five Ballon d’or awards on top of his 34 trophies, which include seven league titles, five Champions Leagues and a European Championship with Portugal. He was mostly revered for his time at Real Madrid, where the Spanish team dominated Europe repetitively.

Cristiano should be remembered for his fame and longevity, as he keeps notching an astonishing number of goals – 50 this year for Al-Nassr at 38 years old. A GOAT.

3. Tiger Woods – Golf

The greatest to ever hit the tiny white ball, Woods is the most astonishing golfer you could dream to watch.

He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, and has five Masters, four PGA Championships and three each of US. Open’s and The Open Championships. Nicklaus may be ahead of him in majors, but the stats will tell you just how impressive Tiger Woods was.

Woods defined himself as one of the sporting greats at the 2019 Masters after overcoming personal issues and injuries to win again aged 43, it was one of sport’s greatest ever comebacks and displayed just how talented he truly was.

2. Lionel Messi - Football

The Messi vs Ronaldo debate roared on for over ten years, but for me the score was settled when Lionel Messi claimed the iconic World Cup last year with Argentina.

Aside from that, you cannot dispute that Messi is the most naturally gifted player of all time. The football sticks to him like glue, and his dribbling is immense on top of his goalscoring, assisting and football knowledge. He has an all-round game.

Lionel Messi’s greatest achievement was not the league titles or Champions Leagues, but the 91 goals scored in 2012, a number so incomprehensible and unbeatable. He seemed unstoppable that year, and that record will not be broken.

1.      Michael Jordan

Jordan is the greatest sportsman of all time.

Credit: Kip-koech

He played fifteen seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. He was integral in popularizing the sport the NBA around the world in the 80s and 90s, becoming a global cultural icon and brand.

Jordan also has four Olympic gold medals with the United States. He is a 6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998), 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) and 14× NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003).

You do not need to watch Flu Game to know that Michael Jordan is the greatest sportsperson of all time. The elite mentality, the influence, and the name. Everything is iconic and legendary about Michael Jordan.