Top 25 Athletes of the 21st Century

Top 25 Athletes of the 21st Century Revealed

ESPN compiled a list of the best athletes of the 21st century, voted on by more than 70,000 contributors. The ranking considered achievements strictly from the year 2000 onward, across all sports and genders, resulting in a diverse lineup of elite performers.

Despite some big names missing from the top 10, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, and Rafael Nadal, the following athletes earned their spots through remarkable accomplishments.

ESPN's Top 100 Athletes (Positions 25-11)

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 of the 21st Century

Kobe Bryant, a Basketball Hall of Famer, spent his entire career (1996-2016) with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, and earned the 2008 NBA MVP award. His career averages include 25 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Bryant’s legacy lives on despite his tragic death in 2020.

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 icon with his record-breaking sprinting feats. He won eight Olympic gold medals across the Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016 Games, setting world records in the 100m and 200m events. Bolt remains the only sprinter to win gold in both distances at three consecutive Olympics.

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 boasts a legendary golfing career spanning over 30 years. He has won 13 major championships including multiple victories at the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021, Woods is remembered as one of golf’s greatest.

The Masters: 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019
PGA Championship: 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007
US Open: 2000, 2002, 2008
The Open: 2000, 2005, 2006

At just 29 years old, Simone Biles has already become one of gymnastics’ all-time greats. She won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, adding silver and bronze medals in Tokyo 2020 and further medals in Paris 2024. Biles holds seven Olympic medals in total.

2016 Rio: Team Gold, All-around Gold, Vault Gold, Floor exercise Gold, Balance beam Bronze
2020 Tokyo: Team Silver, Balance beam Bronze
2024 Paris: Team Gold, All-around Gold, Vault Gold, Floor exercise Silver

Roger Federer, known as tennis’ gentleman, retired in 2022 after a stellar career starting in 1998. With an 82% win rate in over 1,500 matches and 20 Grand Slam titles, including eight Wimbledon wins, he dominated men's tennis alongside rivals like Nadal and Djokovic.

Australian Open: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018
French Open: 2009
Wimbledon: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017
US Open: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Tom Brady holds the most Super Bowl wins in history with seven rings and five Super Bowl MVP awards. His NFL career spanned from 2000 to 2019 with the New England Patriots and then two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady also earned three NFL MVP titles and was selected for the Pro Bowl 15 times.

Games played: 335
Record: 251-82
Passes completed: 7,753
Passes attempted: 12,050
Passing touchdowns: 649

LeBron James ranks as the top basketball player on the list. Still active at 41, he has played for Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and soon Philadelphia 76ers. James is a four-time NBA champion, 22-time All-Star, and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Games played: 1,622
Free-throw percentage: 73.7%
Rebounds per game: 7.5
Assists per game: 7.4
Points per game: 26.8

Lionel Messi is the only footballer in the top 10. Spending most of his club career at FC Barcelona, he won 10 La Liga titles and eight Ballons d'Or. Internationally, Messi led Argentina to two Copa Americas, an Olympic gold in 2008, and a World Cup victory. He scored eight goals and made four assists during Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final run before retiring at 39.

Argentina caps: 207
Argentina goals: 125
Honours: World Cup (1), Copa America (2), Olympic Gold Medal (1)

Serena Williams stands as the highest-ranked woman on the list, with 23 Grand Slam titles, the second-most of any tennis player. Over her career, she claimed 73 titles, becoming a global sports icon and one of the most influential female athletes ever.

Australian Open: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017
French Open: 2002, 2013, 2015
Wimbledon: 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
US Open: 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014

Michael Phelps tops the list as the most decorated Olympian ever. His 28 Olympic medals include 23 golds, with a record eight golds in Beijing 2008 alone. Phelps set world records in seven out of those eight races, solidifying his place among the greatest athletes in history.