to ESPN, Lionel Messi is only behind swimmer Michael Phelps and tennis player Serena Williams.
In the list of top athletes of the 21st century just announced by ESPN , Messi ranked third. Cristiano Ronaldo ranked 13th, and is the second soccer player to appear in the Top 20.
Nine other male footballers feature in the Top 100, including Thierry Henry at 48, Zinedine Zidane at 50, Luka Modric at 55, Kylian Mbappe at 65, Andres Iniesta at 70, Xavi at 75, Ronaldo De Lima at 87, Ronaldinho at 94 and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at 95. The rankings are based on the success and influence of athletes since the turn of the 21st century.
Messi wins the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Photo: Reuters
According to ESPN , Messi winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina is the biggest Hollywood ending that football has ever seen. The sports channel quoted Ronaldo De Lima: “Messi has surpassed all opponents, even the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina. I see the people of Brazil and all over the world supporting Messi. It is a fitting end for a genius who marked an era.”
ESPN ranked Michael Phelps number one. The sports channel explained the American swimmer’s greatness by his record of 28 Olympic medals, including 23 Olympic gold medals, with eight gold medals at one Olympics – in Beijing 2008.
Second place goes to Serena Williams , who has won a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles and 365 major tournaments. She won her 23rd Grand Slam, the 2017 Australian Open, while pregnant, but only announced it later. Serena believes she should have won more than 30 Grand Slams.
Roger Federer is ranked sixth on ESPN’s list . The “Express Train” is considered the greatest male tennis player in history, despite only winning 20 Grand Slams. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slams, and Rafael Nadal has won 22 Grand Slams, but ranked 11th and 12th.
ESPN’s Top 20 Athletes of the 21st Century:
1. Michael Phelps, swimming
2. Serena Williams, tennis
3. Lionel Messi, soccer
4. LeBron James, basketball
5. Tom Brady, football 6.
Roger Federer, tennis
7. Simone Biles, gymnastics
8. Tiger Woods, golf
9. Usain Bolt, track and field
10. Kobe Bryant, basketball
11. Novak Djokovic, tennis
12. Rafael Nadal, tennis
13. Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer
14. Stephen Curry, basketball
15. Katie Ledecky, swimming
16. Tim Duncan, basketball
17. Shaquille O’Neal, basketball
18. Patrick Mahomes, football
19. Lewis Hamilton, F1
20. Aaron Donald, football
