The Greatest Athletes of All Time, Ranked by Fan Votes

Athletes

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.

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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.

1. MUHAMMAD ALI

100.0% win rate

#1 Greatest Athletes of All Time

2. MICHAEL JORDAN

83.3% win rate

#2 Greatest Athletes of All Time

3. TIGER WOODS

66.7% win rate

#3 Greatest Athletes of All Time

T4. MICHAEL PHELPS

60.0% win rate

Tied for the #4 Greatest Athletes of All Time

T4. TOM BRADY

60.0% win rate

Tied for the #4 Greatest Athletes of All Time

6. LIONEL MESSI

50.0% win rate

#6 Greatest Athletes of All Time

T7. SERENA WILLIAMS

33.3% win rate

Tied for the #7 Greatest Athletes of All Time

T7. USAIN BOLT

33.3% win rate

Tied for the #7 Greatest Athletes of All Time

9. LEBRON JAMES

25.0% win rate

#9 Greatest Athletes of All Time

T10. CRISTIANO RONALDO

0.0% win rate

Tied for the #10 Greatest Athletes of All Time

T10. SIMONE BILES

0.0% win rate

Tied for the #10 Greatest Athletes of All Time

T10. WAYNE GRETZKY

0.0% win rate

Tied for the #10 Greatest Athletes of All Time