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The 20 Best Athletes of the 21st Century

By YPB Team3 votes

Two decades of dominance across courts, pitches, pools, tracks and ice, where some names owned a single decade and others never lost a step. Which will win?

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo — ranked #11
    Cristiano Ronaldo
    Five-time Ballon d'Or winner and the all-time leading scorer in men's international football.
    1000pts
    14
  2. Lionel Messi — ranked #22
    Lionel Messi
    Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who capped his career with the 2022 World Cup for Argentina.
    886pts
  3. Novak Djokovic — ranked #33
    Novak Djokovic
    Holder of the men's record with 24 Grand Slam titles and 428 weeks at world No. 1.
    664pts
  4. Stephen Curry — ranked #44
    Stephen Curry
    Point guard who rewrote basketball with the three-pointer, winning four NBA titles.
    442pts
  5. Rafael Nadal — ranked #55
    Rafael Nadal
    Clay-court king with 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 at Roland Garros.
    442pts
  6. Eliud Kipchoge — ranked #66
    Eliud Kipchoge
    Marathon runner, double Olympic champion and the first man to cover the distance under two hours.
    442pts
  7. Tiger Woods — ranked #77
    Tiger Woods
    Golfer with 15 major titles whose 2019 Masters win completed one of sport's great comebacks.
    362pts
  8. Serena Williams — ranked #88
    Serena Williams
    Winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic golds across two decades of dominance.
    362pts
  9. Tom Brady — ranked #99
    Tom Brady
    Quarterback with seven Super Bowl rings, more than any franchise in NFL history.
    362pts
  10. Simone Biles — ranked #1010
    Simone Biles
    Gymnast with more world and Olympic medals than anyone, and five skills named after her.
    362pts
  11. Floyd Mayweather Jr. — ranked #1111
    Floyd Mayweather Jr.
    Boxer who retired 50-0 after collecting world titles in five weight classes.
    362pts
  12. LeBron James — ranked #1212
    LeBron James
    Four-time NBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer over a 20-plus season career.
    265pts
  13. Lewis Hamilton — ranked #1313
    Lewis Hamilton
    Formula One driver with a record 105 grand prix wins and seven world championships.
    265pts
  14. Allyson Felix — ranked #1414
    Allyson Felix
    Sprinter with 11 Olympic medals, the most of any track and field athlete in history.
    265pts
  15. Usain Bolt — ranked #1515
    Usain Bolt
    Sprinter who holds the 100m and 200m world records and won eight Olympic golds.
    0pts
  16. Kobe Bryant — ranked #1616
    Kobe Bryant
    Five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star whose Mamba mentality defined an era.
    0pts
  17. Katie Ledecky — ranked #1717
    Katie Ledecky
    Distance swimmer with nine Olympic golds and world records that have stood for years.
    0pts
  18. Michael Phelps — ranked #1818
    Michael Phelps
    Swimmer with 23 Olympic gold medals, the most decorated Olympian in history.
    0pts
  19. Sidney Crosby — ranked #1919
    Sidney Crosby
    Hockey captain with three Stanley Cups and two Olympic golds, including the 2010 golden goal.
    0pts
  20. Roger Federer — ranked #2020
    Roger Federer
    Tennis stylist with 20 Grand Slam titles and a record eight Wimbledon crowns.
    0pts

#2000s145#sports638#olympics26#players568#2010s106#legends374

Comments

Phelps, Bolt, Serena and Tiger Woods among twenty, and one sport supplies three: 947 weeks at No. 1 between them: https://youpick.best/articles/federer-vs-nadal-vs-djokovic-ranked https://youpick.best/articles/tiger-woods-vs-jack-nicklaus-ranked

YP
ypb-team·Aug 21·
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