This outstanding athlete surpassed their peers in their specific sport, achieving numerous records, accolades, and a new approach to the game. As a result, they gained immense popularity and influence globally, a rare feat that has only been accomplished by a handful of athletes, consistently placing them in top lists of all-time greats.
We compiled this list of the greatest sports players of all time by examining several key factors, including achievements and records, dominance in their sport, level of competition, and their impact on a global scale. We consulted First Post and ICEF to ensure the accuracy of the information.
Who is the most accomplished athlete in history?
| Athlete | Sport | Achievements |
| Muhammad Ali | Boxing | Six-time Ring Fighter of the Year, Olympic gold medalist, and heavyweight champion of the WBA. |
| Michael Jordan | Basketball | Six NBA Championship titles, Six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards, NBA Most Valuable Player award five times |
| Wayne Gretzky | Ice hockey | Leading all-time scorer, assist provider, and point getter in the NHL, with a record ten Art Ross Trophies, nine Hart Trophies, and four Stanley Cups. |
| Usain Bolt | Sprinter | Eight Olympic gold medals, 11 World Championships titles, 100-metre world record holder |
| Michael Phelps | Swimming | 28 Olympic medals, 33 World Aquatics Championships awards. |
| Babe Ruth | Baseball | 7-Time All-Star, American League Batting Champion, American League Most Valuable Player, 7-Time World Series Champion |
| Jim Thorpe | Baseball, American Football, Athletics | 2-time Olympic gold medals, First-Team All-Pro |
| Pele | Football | Three World Cup titles, scored 1279 goals, 77 of them for Brazil |
| Roger Federer | Tennis | 6 Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, the French Open, 8 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon, 6 Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open, 310 ATP titles. |
| Tiger Woods | Golf | 15 major championships, 82 PGA Tour victories |
Selecting the top 10 most renowned athletes in history is a challenging task because it involves taking into account numerous sports and various eras. Nonetheless, certain individuals stand out from the rest for their exceptional achievements on and off the field. Thus, who is regarded as the greatest athlete of all time?
1. Muhammad Ali
- Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.
- Boxing
- American
Muhammad Ali is widely regarded as the greatest sports figure in history. He was also the most successful in his sport, boasting a remarkable record of 56 wins out of 61 professional fights. His distinct and agile movement in the ring was a hallmark of his boxing style.
Furthermore, Ali participated in some of the most significant boxing matches of all time, including "The Rumble in the Jungle", Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II, and Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston. He was named Ring Fighter of the Year six times, won an Olympic gold medal, became a World Boxing Association champion, and held the heavyweight championship title.
In addition to his achievements in boxing, Ali was a prominent advocate for the rights of African Americans.
2. Michael Jordan
- Michael Jeffrey Jordan
- Basketball
- American
Michael Jordan, popularly known as MJ, is widely regarded as one of the greatest male athletes in history. Many players, from past to present, consider him the greatest to have ever laced up shoes on the court. He clinched six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and earned the NBA Finals MVP award each time.
The former shooting guard was the NBA's Most Valuable Player five times and, in his first year, 1985, was the Rookie of the Year. Jordan scored more than 32,000 points in his entire career and has two Olympic gold medals.
3. Wayne Gretzky
- Wayne Douglas Gretzky
- Ice hockey
- Canadian
Wayne Gretzky, commonly known as the Great One, is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding hockey players in history. He holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in the National Hockey League (NHL) with 894, is the leading provider of assists with 1,963, and holds the record for the most points scored with 2,857.
In addition, Gretzky is the only ice hockey player to score over 200 points in a season. Consequently, Gretzky's jersey number 99 has been retired across the entire sport as a tribute to his remarkable career.
4. Usain Bolt
- Usain St. Leo Bolt
- Sprint
- Jamaican
The Jamaican athlete was adamant that he was the greatest sprinter in history. To this day, his record of 9.58 seconds for the 100-meter dash remains unbeatable.
Furthermore, Bolt holds another world record in the 200m (19.19), even though he retired in 2017. He won a total of eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship titles.
5. Michael Phelps
- Michael Fred Phelps II
- Swimming
- America
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympic athlete, having won 28 medals, 23 of them gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze. At the World Aquatics Championships, he received a record 33 medals. His impressive performances earned him the title of World Swimmer of the Year eight times, solidifying his reputation as the greatest swimmer of all time.
6. Babe Ruth
- George Herman "Babe" Ruth
- Baseball
- American
Nicknamed the Bambino or the Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 22 years. He played for the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves, and won seven World Series championships.
He was named an All-Star twice, the 1924 AL batting champion, and the 1923 AL Most Valuable Player. In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Ruth was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
7. Jim Thorpe
- James Francis Thorpe
- American football, basketball, baseball
- American
Jim Thorpe participated in various sports and demonstrated exceptional skill in all of them. He was one of the founding members of the American football league and was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame.
In athletic competitions, he won two Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. Unfortunately, his medals were taken away due to a violation of the Olympic amateurism rule, but they were later restored posthumously.
8. Pele
- Edson Arantes do Nascimento
- Football
- Brazilian
Pele is widely regarded as the world's top football athlete, surpassing even legendary players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He perfectly epitomized the Brazilian style of play and captivated millions of fans worldwide.
Throughout his illustrious career, Pele won three World Cup titles and scored 1,279 goals and 77 for Brazil, demonstrating his extraordinary skill and talent.
9. Roger Federer
- Roger Federer
- Tennis
- Swiss
Roger Federer's name will continue to be mentioned as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He won six Australian Open championships, the French Open, eight Wimbledon titles, and six U.S. Open championships.
In addition, he held the number one ranking in the world for a total of 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks. He concluded his career with 310 ATP titles and was the world's number one player at the end of five seasons.
10. Tiger Woods
- Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods
- Golf
- American
Tiger Woods is a strong candidate for the title of the greatest golfer of all time. He won 15 major championships, including five Masters titles, three U.S. Open victories, three Open Championship titles, and four PGA Championship titles. He achieved 82 PGA Tour wins and completed a career Grand Slam three times.
Tiger Woods remains a source of inspiration for African Americans in a predominantly white golfing community and continues to promote the development of young golfers of colour through the Hero World Challenge and the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption.
Final words
Muhammad Ali is widely regarded as the greatest athlete of all time. His influence on and outside the ring was significant, contributing to the popularity of boxing and raising awareness about the challenges faced by African Americans. Other athletes also made a lasting impact in their respective fields, shaping them in a profound way.