ESPN's Top 25 Athletes of the 21st Century Revealed
ESPN Announces Top 25 Athletes of the 21st Century
ESPN finalized its list of the top 100 athletes of the 21st century in 2024, following votes from over 70,000 contributors worldwide. Voters focused solely on achievements from the year 2000 onward, with no restrictions on sport or gender, creating a diverse lineup of exceptional talent.
Although some notable stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, and Rafael Nadal did not make the top 10, the selected names represent those deemed best by the voters.
Positions 25 to 11
- 25. Floyd Mayweather - Boxing
- 24. Albert Pujols - Baseball
- 23. Kevin Garnett - Basketball
- 22. Sidney Crosby - Hockey
- 21. Diana Taurasi - Basketball
- 20. Aaron Donald - NFL
- 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
Top 10 Athletes
Kobe Bryant is widely recognized as one of basketball's all-time greats. Spending his entire NBA career (1996-2016) with the Los Angeles Lakers, he was a five-time NBA champion, 18-time All-Star, and earned the 2008 NBA MVP title. Tragically, his life ended in a helicopter crash in 2020, but his influence on basketball remains immense.
- Games played: 1,346
- Free-throw percentage: .837
- Rebounds per game: 5.2
- Assists per game: 4.7
- Points per game: 25.0
Usain Bolt became a global track legend with eight Olympic gold medals earned across Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. He holds the world record for the 100m sprint and uniquely won gold in both 100m and 200m events.
- 2008 Beijing 100m: Gold
- 2008 Beijing 200m: 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
Tiger Woods’ 30-year career has been full of records and major titles. He boasts 13 Major championships, including multiple wins at The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open Championship. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021, his impact on golf is lasting.
- The Masters wins: 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019
- PGA Championship wins: 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007
- US Open wins: 2000, 2002, 2008
- The Open wins: 2000, 2005, 2006
At just 29, Simone Biles is the youngest athlete in the top 10. She took her first national title at 16 and made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics by winning four gold medals. With a total of seven Olympic medals by age 23 and further successes at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games, she is often called the greatest gymnast ever.
- 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
- 2024 Paris Team: Gold
- 2024 Paris All-around: Gold
- 2024 Paris Vault: Gold
- 2024 Paris Floor exercise: Silver
Roger Federer stands out as the only male tennis player in the top 10. Turning pro in 1998, he holds an 82% win rate over 1,500 matches. With 20 Major titles, including eight Wimbledon championships, Federer dominated men's tennis until his retirement in 2022.
- Australian Open wins: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018
- French Open win: 2009
- Wimbledon wins: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017
- US Open wins: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Tom Brady holds the record for the most Super Bowl victories with seven rings and was named Super Bowl MVP five times. His NFL career included 20 years with the New England Patriots and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His legacy also includes three NFL MVP awards and 15 Pro Bowl selections.
- Games played: 335
- Record: 251-82
- Passes completed: 7,753
- Passes attempted: 12,050
- Passing touchdowns: 649
LeBron James is the highest-ranked basketball player on ESPN’s list and remains active at 41. His NBA journey has included stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and soon the Philadelphia 76ers. He is a four-time NBA champion, 22-time All-Star, and the league’s all-time scoring leader.
- Games played: 1,622
- Free-throw percentage: 73.7%
- Rebounds per game: 7.5
- Assists per game: 7.4
- Points per game: 26.8
The only footballer in the top 10, Lionel Messi spent most of his career at FC Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles. Internationally, Messi led Argentina to a World Cup victory, two Copa Americas, and an Olympic gold medal. With eight Ballons d'Or, he stands as the most decorated player in football history. He scored eight goals and assisted four times during Argentina's 2026 World Cup run before retiring internationally at 39.
- Argentina caps: 207
- Argentina goals: 125
- Honors: World Cup (1), Copa America (2), Olympic Gold (1)
Serena Williams ranks second overall and is the highest-ranked female athlete. A 23-time Major champion, she is one of the most influential women in sports history. Sister to Venus Williams, Serena won 73 professional titles, marking an extraordinary career.
- Australian Open wins: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017
- French Open wins: 2002, 2013, 2015
- Wimbledon wins: 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
- US Open wins: 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014
Michael Phelps leads the list as the most decorated Olympian ever. Winning 28 Olympic medals, including 23 golds, he set records at Beijing 2008 by claiming eight gold medals in a single Games and breaking seven world records. Phelps transformed swimming's global appeal through his unmatched dominance.
- 2004 Athens: 6 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze
- 2008 Beijing: 8 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze
- 2012 London: 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Bronze
- 2016 Rio: 5 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze
