Top 25 Athletes of the 21st Century Revealed

ESPN Unveils Top 25 Athletes of the 21st Century

In a poll involving over 70,000 ESPN contributors, the network finalized its list of the top 100 athletes from the 21st century back in 2024. Voters were asked to focus strictly on achievements from 2000 onwards. The list includes athletes across all genders and sports, showcasing a wide range of talent.

Some big names missed out on the top 10 despite their fame, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, and Rafael Nadal. Still, the selected athletes represent the cream of the crop according to those who voted.

ESPN's Top 25 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 is widely regarded as one of basketball’s legends. His entire career was with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016. Bryant won five NBA championships, was an 18-time NBA All-Star, and earned the 2008 NBA MVP award. His untimely death in a 2020 helicopter crash deeply affected fans worldwide, but his legacy endures.

• 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 sprinting icon with eight Olympic gold medals won across three Olympics: Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016. Bolt set the 100m world record at age 21 and remains the only sprinter to win gold in both 100m and 200m events.

• 2008 Beijing: 100m Gold, 200m Gold
• 2012 London: 100m Gold, 200m Gold, 4x100m relay Gold
• 2016 Rio: 100m Gold, 200m Gold, 4x100m relay Gold

Tiger Woods turned pro in 1996 and has dominated golf for decades. He holds 13 major championship titles including multiple Masters and PGA Championships. Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021, ensuring his place in golfing history.

• 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 made a splash early by winning her first national title at 16 and grabbed four golds at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Biles has seven Olympic medals in total and added three golds and one silver at the 2024 Paris Games.

• 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 stands out as the sole men’s tennis player in the top 10. Turning pro in 1998, he boasts an 82% win rate in over 1,500 matches. Federer won 20 Grand Slam titles, including a record eight Wimbledons, and retired in 2022 after a storied career.

• 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 is the most decorated Super Bowl player ever with seven championship rings and five Super Bowl MVP awards. He spent nearly two decades with the New England Patriots before finishing his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady also earned three NFL MVP honors and appeared in 15 Pro Bowls.

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

LeBron James ranks as the highest NBA player on this list. At 41 years old and still active, he has played for Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and soon the Philadelphia 76ers. James is a four-time NBA champion, 22-time All-Star, and holds the NBA’s all-time scoring record.

• 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 career at FC Barcelona, Messi won 10 La Liga titles and numerous personal awards. Internationally, he led Argentina to two Copa Americas, an Olympic gold, and a World Cup victory. He retired from international play in 2026 after a stellar run.

• Argentina caps: 207
• Goals for Argentina: 125
• Honors: 1 World Cup, 2 Copa Americas, 1 Olympic Gold Medal

Serena Williams holds the second spot overall and is the highest-ranked woman on the list. With 23 Grand Slam titles, she is one of the most decorated tennis players ever. Williams won a total of 73 professional titles and is considered a major influence both inside and outside tennis.

• 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 tops the list as the most decorated Olympian ever, with 28 medals including 23 golds. His peak came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he won eight gold medals and broke records in seven of those events. Phelps redefined excellence in swimming and sports history.

• 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