# The 20 Best Athletes of the 21st Century

> 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?

*By YPB Team · Published July 31, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-20-best-athletes-of-the-21st-century*

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## Current results (3 votes)

1. **Lionel Messi** — 66.67% (2 votes · score 1000/1000)
   Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who capped his career with the 2022 World Cup for Argentina.
2. **Novak Djokovic** — 33.33% (1 votes · score 974/1000)
   Holder of the men's record with 24 Grand Slam titles and 428 weeks at world No. 1.
3. **Serena Williams** — 0% (0 votes · score 643/1000)
   Winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic golds across two decades of dominance.
4. **Rafael Nadal** — 0% (0 votes · score 642/1000)
   Clay-court king with 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 at Roland Garros.
5. **Tiger Woods** — 0% (0 votes · score 576/1000)
   Golfer with 15 major titles whose 2019 Masters win completed one of sport's great comebacks.
6. **Stephen Curry** — 0% (0 votes · score 576/1000)
   Point guard who rewrote basketball with the three-pointer, winning four NBA titles.
7. **Eliud Kipchoge** — 0% (0 votes · score 576/1000)
   Marathon runner, double Olympic champion and the first man to cover the distance under two hours.
8. **Kobe Bryant** — 0% (0 votes · score 500/1000)
   Five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star whose Mamba mentality defined an era.
9. **Floyd Mayweather Jr.** — 0% (0 votes · score 500/1000)
   Boxer who retired 50-0 after collecting world titles in five weight classes.
10. **Tom Brady** — 0% (0 votes · score 409/1000)
   Quarterback with seven Super Bowl rings, more than any franchise in NFL history.
11. **Simone Biles** — 0% (0 votes · score 409/1000)
   Gymnast with more world and Olympic medals than anyone, and five skills named after her.
12. **Usain Bolt** — 0% (0 votes · score 300/1000)
   Sprinter who holds the 100m and 200m world records and won eight Olympic golds.
13. **LeBron James** — 0% (0 votes · score 300/1000)
   Four-time NBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer over a 20-plus season career.
14. **Lewis Hamilton** — 0% (0 votes · score 300/1000)
   Formula One driver with a record 105 grand prix wins and seven world championships.
15. **Roger Federer** — 0% (0 votes · score 300/1000)
   Tennis stylist with 20 Grand Slam titles and a record eight Wimbledon crowns.
16. **Allyson Felix** — 0% (0 votes · score 300/1000)
   Sprinter with 11 Olympic medals, the most of any track and field athlete in history.
17. **Cristiano Ronaldo** — 0% (0 votes · score 167/1000)
   Five-time Ballon d'Or winner and the all-time leading scorer in men's international football.
18. **Katie Ledecky** — 0% (0 votes · score 167/1000)
   Distance swimmer with nine Olympic golds and world records that have stood for years.
19. **Michael Phelps** — 0% (0 votes · score 167/1000)
   Swimmer with 23 Olympic gold medals, the most decorated Olympian in history.
20. **Sidney Crosby** — 0% (0 votes · score 167/1000)
   Hockey captain with three Stanley Cups and two Olympic golds, including the 2010 golden goal.

Tags: 2000s, sports, olympics, players, 2010s, legends