The Greatest Athletes of All Time, Ranked by Fan Votes
GoatWars fans rank Michael Jordan the greatest of all time among Athletes, with a 76.8% Goatscore.
Chasing the crown: #2 Michael Phelps (61.5%), #3 Muhammad Ali (59.2%).
You’re at the loudest table in the sports bar and somebody just said Michael Jordan is obviously above Muhammad Ali. Now the Messi fan is standing up, the Serena fan is laughing, and Tom Brady somehow has seven rings on the table.
This is the argument every sport tries to win. Team legends versus solo killers. Olympic perfection versus decades of pressure. Raw dominance versus unforgettable moments. There is no clean stat that settles it, which is exactly why the fight works.
Pick the athlete who made greatness feel unfair. Defend your sport, disrespect somebody else’s, and start voting. Right now.
All Time ranks by all-time win rate across every head-to-head battle. Latest ranks by latest fan sentiment, updated as new battles are voted on.
GOAT List FAQs
Who is the greatest of all time among Athletes?
GoatWars fans rank Michael Jordan the greatest of all time among Athletes, with a 76.8% Goatscore.
How is the GOAT List calculated?
The GOAT List ranks every contender in Athletes by Goatscore: the percentage of head-to-head GoatWars battles they have won, as voted by fans.
How many votes is this ranking based on?
This GOAT List is based on 1,825 fan votes in head-to-head battles, as of November 3, 2026.
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