This list does not feature the best players of all time even if some of the athletes on it might have been outstanding performances in their respective disciplines. This is true notwithstanding any of the sportsmen on the list may have. These are the top athletes who have wondered, “What is it that makes someone qualified to be considered a superb athlete?” The sportsmen that have tackled this topic are listed here. In the context of this list, the word “athletic brilliance” describes the set of qualities that help one to excel athletically. These are meant to improve among other desired skills hand-eye coordination, speed, quickness, endurance, and power. This is the reason athletes participating in specialist sports, such bikers and marathon runners, are not included on this list. Lance Armstrong has not shown that he is qualified for other sports requiring more than just constant thigh hammering for a long period of time. This is true even though he is obviously an expert in his field of work.
List Of The Top 10 Greatest Athletes 2024
1. Lionel Messi
Having a record eight Ballon d’Or medals, the Argentinean football player has always been destined for excellence and shown early ability. Messi and his family relocated to Barcelona when he was 13 years old; the team helped him to treat his growth hormone shortage. He began for FC Barcelona’s U14 team. Rising fast through the ranks, the Argentinean amazed everyone with extraordinary ability. He made his first senior game for the Blaugranas at 17 and soon became a key member of the team. The native relationship of the Rosario with Barcelona was really successful. Over his 17-year tenure with the team, he brought home ten La Liga trophies, four Champions League crowns, and seven Copa del Rey medals. Having an amazing 474 goals to his name, he is also La Liga’s all-time top scorer. He departed the Spanish team in 2021 to play two years for French powerhouse Paris Saint Germain, then signed Inter Miami in the MLS.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo is a well-known global football player noted by great accuracy and talent on the field. From early years spent playing for Andorinha and Nacional, his road to stardom began with age twelve at Sporting CP soccer academy. Here he honed his talents, leading to a 2002 professional debut. When Ronaldo signed with Manchester United in 2003, his career changed significantly. Apart from a Champions League victory, his stint at United saw him bagging three consecutive Premier League medals.
3. Novak Djokovic
Born May 22, 1987, Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia [now in Serbia], Novak Djokovic is a Serbian tennis player among the best men’s players in the annals of the sport. For men, his 24 Grand Slam singles victories—which include an unheard-of 10 Australian Open championships—represent a record. Considered as one of the top returners in the game, Djokovic is also well-known for his backhand stroke and physical endurance.
4. Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and designated hitter who currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on July 5, 1994. Previously, he was a member of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters basketball team, who competed in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball. In the draft that took place in 2012, Ohtani was the Fighters’ first choice.
4. LeBron James
Professional basketball player LeBron James is having a lasting effect on the game. Born in Akron, Ohio, on December 30, 1984, he has become well-known all around for his exceptional achievements. His mother, Gloria Marie James, raised him in their hometown, and from a very young age he had exceptional basketball ability. Many honors and extensive media coverage during his high school career at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School helped him to rise to the rank of among the most promising players of his time.
5. Steph Curry
Born March 14, 1988, in Akron, Ohio, as Wardell Stephen Curry II, Steph Curry has developed to be among the most influential people in the professional basketball scene. From an early age, basketball became second nature to Steph; he is the son of former sharpshooter Dell Curry and the older brother of another NBA player Seth Curry. Though his skinny frame attracted interest from prestigious colleges, he developed himself at Davidson College, where he led the nation in scoring and received a junior year John R. Wooden Award nomination. The Golden State Warriors chose Curry as their seventh overall pick; he would help to create a legacy for the team.
6. Robert Lewandowski
Following Znicz Pruszków’s top scoring in the third and second levels of Polish football, he transferred to top-flight Lech Poznan and helped the team to win the 2009–10 Ekstraklasa. He moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2010, where he won trophies including two consecutive Bundesliga titles and the league’s top goalscorer award. He helped Dortmund qualify for the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final. Lewansky agreed to join Bayern Munich, a domestic rival of Dortmund, on a free transfer before the 2014–15 campaign began. Over his eight seasons in Munich, he took home the Bundesliga championship in every one. As part of a treble, Lewandowski was vital for Bayern’s UEFA Champions League triumph in 2019–20. Along with Johan Cruyff, he is one of only two players who have attained the European treble while leading all three tournaments in goals scored; he is also the first to do so. Following his signing by FC Barcelona in 2022, he won the Pichichi Trophy for top goalscorer in the La Liga, the Supercopa de España, and the title in his first season.
7. Usain Bolt
Thought described as the best sprinter of all time, Jamaican retired athlete Usain St Leo Bolt He owns world records in the 100 metres, 200 metres, 4 x 100 metres relay. Only Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold winner, will take Olympic 100 and 200 medals at three consecutive Games (2008, 2012 and 2016). He also took two 4 x 100 relay gold medals. After his double sprint victory in world record speeds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he became well-known worldwide since entirely automatic timing became necessary. From 2009 to 2015 he won successive World Championship 100 m, 200 m and 4 x 100 m relay gold medals save for a 100 m false start in 2011. eleven-times World Champion. He is most successful among the male competitors at the World Championships. Bolt is the first of the most successful 100 m competitors with three titles to have four World Championship medals in the 200 m.
8. Erling Haaland
2000 saw Erling Haaland born in Leeds, at the time his father was under contract with Leeds United. Having worked his way up via local club Bryne, Alf-Inge Haaland had gone to England seven years ago. Alf-Inge was forced to quit from football aged thirty with injury concerns just three years after Erling was born. Although he suffered a right knee injury from a vicious Roy Keane tackle, he had prior issues with his left knee unconnected to the Manchester United midfielder’s red card incident. Alf-Inge chose to go home to Norway with his family when his top-level career was done.
9. Pele
“Pelé” was the nickname given to Edson Arantes do Nascimento, a Brazilian professional footballer who played with the forward position. 1999 was the year that he was honored as Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee, and he was also included in the list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century that was compiled by Time magazine. Pelé was one of the two players that shared the title of FIFA Player of the Century. He was also ranked as the World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
10. Muhammad Ali
Professionally boxing, activist, performer, poet, and philanthropist from the United States of America was Muhammad Ali, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. Muhammad Ali, his ring name, helped him to be more well-known. His birthday was January 17, 1942; he finally passed away on June 3, 2016. Most say he is the best athlete of the century and heavyweight boxer of all time. Another moniker he is known by is “The Greatest.” He is widely seen as one of the most significant and honored personalities in the sports scene of the 20th century.
