The 10 Most Famous Sports Athletes Of All Time: Their Legacies

Sports serve as a common language that can unite people of different nationalities, generations, and social classes. Many athletes throughout history have made significant contributions to their sports and the society at large. The names of these sportsmen will forever be linked to historic achievements and landmark moments. In this article, we'll take a look at the 10 most famous sports athletes of all time, exploring their legacies and what makes them stand out.

10. Lionel Messi - Football's Magician

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="663"] Lionel Messi | Google[/caption] Lionel Messi is generally considered to be one of the best soccer players of all time. Six times Ballon d'Or winner, 10-time La Liga champion, 4-time Champions League winner, and Olympic gold medalist while playing for FC Barcelona and Argentina. He has scored more goals (467) in La Liga history than anybody else, and he holds the marks for most goals scored in a calendar year (91), a single season (73), and in La Liga history. The greatness of his dribbling, passing, shooting, and vision, together with his modesty and loyalty, have made him a legend on the field. In addition to being a philanthropist, the Inter Miami captain is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and an advocate for children's rights, health, and education.

9. Cristiano Ronaldo - Legendary footballer and a cosmic phenomenon

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Cristiano Ronaldo | Source: Google[/caption] Cristiano Ronaldo has won a plethora of individual and team honours, cementing his status as one of the best players of all time. With his exceptional talent, charisma, and humanitarian efforts, he has inspired millions of followers around the world and has become a global icon. The Portuguese captain took his skills to a new level during his time with Real Madrid, scoring 450 goals in just 438 appearances to become the club's all-time leading scorer. He helped Portugal win Euro 2016 for the first time in their history, scoring three goals and setting up another three. The Al-Nassr FC striker is more than just a cultural icon; he is a legend in the world of football. He is the most followed person in the world as a lot of people follow him on various social networking sites including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. He's an ambassador for a wide range of products, from Nike and Armani to Tag Heuer and Herbalife to EA Sports and Clear Shampoo. The CR7 brand, which he created, now covers apparel, footwear, clothing, fragrances, and even hotels. He has helped those in need by donating blood, advocating for the education of children, combating hunger and poverty, bringing attention to the need of animal protection, and aiding those affected by natural disasters. The FIFA Presidential Award, the Silver Heart Award, the European Golden Shoe Charity Award, and the Marca Leyenda Award are just a few of the honors and accolades he has received for his humanitarian efforts.

8. Serena Williams - Tennis' Female Champion

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Serena Williams. | Source: Google[/caption] In the history of tennis, Serena Williams ranks among the all-time greats. Many tennis experts and fans alike agree that Williams is the sport's all-time great female player. She holds the Open Era record with 23 Grand Slam singles titles and is just behind Margaret Court (24) in all-time wins. In addition to her singles success, she and her sister Venus have won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles. She is the third-longest player in history (after Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova) to hold the No. 1 singles ranking, having done so for a total of 319 weeks and being awarded WTA Player of the Year seven times. She also holds the record for the most prize money won by a female athlete at almost $94 million. Her formidable serve, aggressive baseline play, mental toughness, and extended career have earned her widespread acclaim. Williams is well-known not just for her strong serves and aggressive play, but also for her activism on behalf of women's rights and fair pay. Throughout her career, she has dealt with numerous injuries and health problems, including a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism in 2011 and a challenging childbirth in 2017. Even though she is 39 years old, she continues to compete at the highest levels.

7. Michael Phelps - The Flying Fish

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="706"] Michael Phelps | Source: ESPN[/caption] Michael Phelps, an American swimmer, won a record-breaking 28 medals (including 23 gold medals) over five Olympic competitions between the years 2000 and 2016. He has earned the most Olympic medals of any male athlete (28), the most gold medals in a single Olympics (8 in 2008), and the most gold medals by an individual athlete (13). He has also broken 39 world records and won 26 world championships in swimming. His exceptional skill and grace in the pool influenced a whole new wave of young swimmers. Phelps' dedication to a healthy lifestyle, water conservation, and raising awareness about mental health issues only strengthened his standing as an inspiration.

6. Roger Federer - Tennis' Sports Champion

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="707"] Roger Federer | Source: Google[/caption] The Swiss tennis star Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are tied for the most Grand Slam singles titles won with 20 each. Together with Stan Wawrinka, he won the Olympic doubles gold medal, and he has won a record-breaking 28 ATP Masters 1000 championships. He was world No. 1 for a record-setting 310 weeks, including a record-setting 237 weeks in a row. In addition, he holds the record for the highest prize money won by a male tennis player at over $130 million. He is recognized for his fluidity on the court, accuracy of his volleys, and unblemished sportsmanship. In addition to his tennis career, Roger Federer is a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and the creator of the Roger Federer Foundation, which funds educational initiatives in Africa and Switzerland.

5. Usain Bolt -The Fastest Man Alive

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="716"] Usain Bolt. | LosAngelesTimes.com[/caption] Usain Bolt, a Jamaican sprinter, ruled track and field for more than a decade. He won eight gold medals at the Olympics, 11 world championships in individual events, and a number of world records. He holds the records for the 100-meter dash (9.58 seconds), the 200-meter dash (19.19 seconds), and the 4x100-meter relay (36.84 seconds). The world fell in love with Usain Bolt, the "Fastest Man Alive," because of his incredible speed, charisma, and trademark pose. His magnetic personality and unwavering commitment to his career made him an iconic figure in athletics.

4. Babe Ruth - Baseball's Legendary Slugger

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="643"] Babe Ruth | Source: Google[/caption] George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. was arguably the most iconic player in baseball history. During his Major League Baseball career, he won seven World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves, among other teams. He could pitch and play the outfield, but his hitting skills were his calling card. After Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds, he ranks third all-time with 714 home runs. His career numbers in batting average (.342), slugging percentage (.690), and on-base plus slugging (1.164) are all in the upper echelons of baseball's record books. Because of his charisma and popularity, he always attracted large audiences and media attention wherever he went. He was called "The Bambino," "The Sultan of Swat," and "The Great Bambino." When the Baseball Hall of Fame was founded in 1936, he was one of the first five players to be inducted. Ruth's larger-than-life personality helped make him a baseball and cultural icon.

3. Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Boxer of All Time

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Muhammad Ali | Flipboard.com[/caption] Not only is Muhammad Ali revered as one of the sport's all-time greats, but he also stands as an inspiration for his unwavering beliefs and tireless advocacy. He was considered by many to be the best heavyweight boxer of all time, having won the title three times and having knocked out legends like Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Sonny Liston. A devout Christian who also strongly opposed racism and persecution, he famously declined to serve in Vietnam. After a three-year suspension from the sport, he was able to get his license back and return to the ring, where he once again became a champion. In spite of his amazing 56-5 record, Ali's influence on boxing goes far beyond his accomplishments in the ring. Before receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, he lighted the Olympic torch at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. He was an outspoken supporter of human rights and humanitarian issues, as well as an ambassador of peace around the world. In 2016, he died at the age of 74.

2. Pele - The Game's Beautiful Player

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="653"] Pelé | Source: Sendstory.co[/caption] Pelé, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is a legendary figure in Brazilian football. Pele is widely acknowledged as one of the best soccer players of all time. He won three World Cups with Brazil (1958, 1962, and 1970) while playing for Santos FC in Brazil and New York Cosmos in the United States. A record 1,281 goals in 1,363 games makes him the all-time leading scorer. Along with Diego Maradona, he was named FIFA Player of the Century in 2000. His inventiveness, vision, and leadership, together with his superb dribbling, shooting, passing, and heading talents, earned him many accolades. Beyond the realm of sports, he was a cultural figure revered around the world for his advocacy of international harmony. Although he stopped actively playing soccer in 1977, he continued to be involved in the community as an ambassador, philanthropist, and businessman. In addition to the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012, he also won the International Peace Award in 1978.

1. Michael Jordan - The King of Basketball

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Michael Jordan with the Air Jordan signature. | Pinterest.com[/caption] There is a consensus that Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time. While playing in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards, he racked up 10 scoring titles, 5 regular season MVP awards, 6 Finals MVP honors, and 6 regular season MVP trophies. He also won the Most Valuable Player award three times and was named to the All-Star Team MVP list on three separate occasions. He had the highest career scoring average in both the regular season (30.12 ppg) and the playoffs (33.45 ppg) in NBA history. He won gold with the United States Olympic team in 1984 and again in 1992. He first retired from basketball in 1993 to focus on baseball, then again in 1999 to concentrate on his business operations, and finally in 2003 to finish his playing career for good. Though not limited to the court, his legacy remains. Jordan's influence on society, especially his iconic shoes and endorsement deals, helped make him a household name around the world.   Legendary sports figures leave behind not only their on-field achievements, but also their off-field contributions to society and the enduring impressions they had on fans and the public at large. Every one of these players, from Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali to Michael Jordan, Cr7, and Messi, has left us in awe and admiration of their remarkable talents and charisma. Their legacies will live on in the realm of sports and beyond because their stories will be told for generations to come.