10 Most Popular Athletes of All Time

Michael Jordan

 Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, Jordan won six NBA championships, five MVP awards, and was a 14-time NBA All-Star.

Muhammad Ali

 Known as "The Greatest," Ali was a three-time heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist. He was also a prominent activist and social justice advocate.

Usain Bolt

 A Jamaican sprinter, Bolt is the fastest man in history, holding world records in the 100m and 200m races. He won eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship titles.

Serena Williams

 Considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals. She also holds the record for the most consecutive weeks as the world's No. 1 player in both singles and doubles.

Lionel Messi

 An Argentine footballer, Messi has won seven Ballon d'Or awards (given to the world's best player) and four Champions League titles with FC Barcelona. He also helped lead Argentina to the Copa America championship in 2021.

Nadia Comaneci

 A Romanian gymnast, Comaneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics. She won five Olympic gold medals and is considered one of the greatest gymnasts in history.

Michael Phelps

An American swimmer, Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 28 medals (23 gold). He also holds world records in several events.

Pelé

 A Brazilian footballer, Pelé won three World Cups and is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He scored over 1,000 career goals and was known for his exceptional skills and vision on the field.

Carl Lewis

 An American track and field athlete, Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship golds. He set world records in several events and is considered one of the greatest long jumpers in history.

Martina Navratilova

A Czech-American tennis player, Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and 31 doubles titles. She also won four Olympic medals and is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, male or female.