ESPN released their final list of the top 100 athletes of the 21st century back in 2024. Voted for by over 70,000 ESPN contributors, the top 100 was officially decided.

Those who took part in the voting were instructed to only consider the achievements of the athletes from the year 2000 onwards. As well as this, the list is not limited to any gender or sport, resulting in a list filled with variety and talent.

With such a deep pool of athletes to choose from, there are undoubtedly some highly prolific athletes who have missed out on the top 10. Some of the most notable omissions include the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, and Rafael Nadal. However, the following list of names has been considered the best among voters.

10

Kobe Bryant

Basketball

Widely considered to be one of the greatest athletes to step on the court, Kobe Bryant consistently proved his on-court talent – and there’s no doubt that he can be labelled one of the many icons of the sport. The Basketball Hall of Famer’s career spanned from 1996-2016, spending his entire career at the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his playing career, Bryant was one of the highest-achieving basketball players of all time.

Among his accolades include the likes of being a five-time NBA champion, an 18-time NBA All-Star, and the 2008 NBA MVP. A heartbreaking helicopter crash in 2020 would lead to the passing of Bryant, but his career undoubtedly inspired those all across the world and his legacy will prevail the test of time.

9

Usain Bolt

Athletics

Revered track star Usain Bolt became one of the most prolific Olympians of all time in the 21st century, while also emerging as a beloved national treasure in his native Jamaica. His record-breaking speeds cemented his legacy as a household name all across the world and among his vast achievements, Bolt attained eight Olympic gold medals while competing in three consecutive games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016.

As well as his gold medals, Bolt – who was named, by AI, as one of the greatest Olympians of all time – also earned the world record for the 100m at the tender age of just 21. As well as this, Usain Bolt is the only sprinter to win gold in both the 100m and 200m categories. His accolades are simply unprecedented.

8

Tiger Woods

Golf

Mike Finn-Kelcey via Reuters

One of the most iconic names in the golfing world belongs to none other than Tiger Woods. A lengthy and record-breaking career has earned the American his place on this star-studded list, turning from amateur to professional way back in 1996 – and now, 30 years later, Woods has done it all when it comes to golfing achievements.

He is a 13-time Major champion in the likes of the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open Championship and, by virtue of being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021, Tiger Woods will be remembered by sports fans for decades.

7

Simone Biles

Gymnastics

The youngest name in the top 10 of this list belongs to Simone Biles given that the gymnast from the US is currently 29 years old. Biles won her first national title in 2013, aged just 16, and three years later, she made history by earning four Olympic gold medals in Rio de Janeiro, the joint-most by a female gymnast in a single Games. Another bronze medal in 2016, as well as silver and bronze in 2020, made Biles a seven-time medallist aged just 23.

Despite her youthful nature, Columbus-born Biles is already considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. She further enhanced those claims by her performance at the Paris Olympics, winning three gold medals and one silver.

6

Roger Federer

Tennis

Beating the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray, Roger Federer is the only men’s tennis player in the top 10. The Swiss turned professional in 1998 and is one of the most decorated tennis players to ever step on the court. To put his numbers into perspective, he boasts an incredible 82% winning percentage in over 1,500 professional matches.

Among his accomplishments include being a 20-time Major champion, including eight Wimbledon titles, making him the most successful man in Wimbledon history. Known as the gentleman of tennis thanks to his warming nature, his name has dominated the sport for years now thanks to him often spearheaded the ‘Big Three.’

5

Tom Brady

The most successful man in Super Bowl history is Tom Brady. The American holds an impressive seven championship rings, as well as being Super Bowl MVP on five different occasions. Spending the majority of his career with the New England Patriots, Brady’s stint there lasted between the years of 2000 and 2019.

This was then followed by two years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Other noteworthy accomplishments of Brady include three NFL MVP awards, as well as being a 15-time Pro Bowler. Even people who are not avid watchers of the NFL will be familiar with Brady’s career and how instrumental he has been in putting the sport on the map.

4

LeBron James

Basketball

Alonzo Adams via Imagn Images

Basketball icon LeBron James is the highest-ranking athlete of his sport on the ESPN list. Still active at the ripe old age of 41, his NBA career has seen him compete for the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers – all teams in the upper echelons of the sport’s mythology. His next chapter in the sport will see him don the colours of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Just some of his key accomplishments include the likes of being a four-time NBA champion, a 22-time All-Star, and the all-time scoring leader in the NBA. All across the world, James is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time alongside Michael Jordan.

3

Lionel Messi

REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

The only football player to break the top 10 of the list is none other than Lionel Messi. Spending the vast majority of his club career at FC Barcelona, Messi is a 10-time La Liga champion from his time in Spain and picked up a litany of individual gongs throughout that period.

Representing his national team, Messi has brought international success to Argentina as two Copa Americas (2021,2024), an Olympic gold medal (2008), and a World Cup have made him one of the best footballers of all time. In terms of individual achievements, Messi has secured eight Ballons d’Or, the most of any player in the beautiful game.

2

Serena Williams

Tennis

Andrew Couldridge via Reuters

One of the most decorated tennis players of all time, Serena Williams earned the second spot out of 100 athletes, simply proving her undeniable dominance throughout the entirety of the sport. The highest-ranking woman on the list is a sporting icon and will go down as one of the most influential women – not just in tennis, but in the world.

Sister of Venus, Williams is a 23-time Major champion, which is not only astonishingly brilliant, but the second-most of any tennis player. Altogether, the tennis icon secured a grand total of 73 titles across her professional career.

1

Michael Phelps

Swimming

Topping the list is Olympic superstar Michael Phelps, who – throughout his illustrious career – enhanced swimming’s reputation by bringing plenty of eyes to it. The remarkable 28-time medallist made history on numerous occasions as he conquered the Olympics through what he does best: travelling quickly in the pool and becoming widely recognised as one of the most dominant athletes of all time as a result.

Out of his 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them are gold, making him the most decorated Olympian of all time. As well as this, Phelps holds the record for the most gold medals at a single Games, notching up eight in Beijing in 2008. Out of his eight races, Phelps broke records in seven of them, making him one of the most impressive-to-watch athletes since the start of time.

Ezri Konsa could still leave Aston Villa this summer despite the club’s willingness to extend the English defender’s contract.

The Villans have already rejected a bid from Arsenal for Konsa, which is thought to have fallen way short of their £60 million valuation. They are reportedly bracing for the Gunners to make a second offer for their versatile centre-back who has two years on his current deal.

Konsa played a crucial role in last season’s Europa League triumph and has developed into one of the best defenders in the Premier League since arriving at Villa Park in 2019. He remains on Mikel Arteta’s wishlist, and that might explain why the Villans are keeping in contact with a Brazilian defender.

Aston Villa in Talks With Roger Ibanez

Villa have already bid farewell to Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans this summer, and selling another high-profile star isn’t their desire. But Konsa is thought to be open to a move to the Emirates and joining the defending Premier League champions.

If Konsa moves, Unai Emery would undoubtedly need a replacement, and the West Midlands outfit could turn to Al-Ahli’s Roger Ibanez, with whom they are in ‘repeated contact’, per Sky Sport Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri.

Ibanez has put contract extension talks on hold after attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, including Villa. While there has been no concrete offer made yet, Emery’s transfer chiefs seem keen on the player.

The 27-year-old has just a year left on his contract, which puts Al-Ahli under pressure to cash in now if he opts not to sign a new deal. Villa could wait until January to reach an agreement with the player and sign him as a free agent next year.

That said, continued contact suggests Emery’s chiefs are plotting a move for the Brazilian this summer. He has impressed during his time in the Saudi Pro League and earned a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad, making one appearance in North America.

Ibanez May Be Ideal For Emery

Ibanez will appeal to Emery because of his versatility, as he can play in central defence, at right-back, and even in defensive midfield. He has plenty of experience, having joined Al-Ahli from AS Roma and previously spending time at Atalanta.

While out in Saudi Arabia, he has been a rock for new Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle, helping him guide the Saudi outfit to AFC Champions League glory twice. He may be tempted to head to Villa Park and play in the UEFA Champions League under Emery.

Ibanez’s performances in the Middle East have been described as “relentless”, and that’s exactly what Emery likes from his defenders. If Konsa does stay put and the Brazilian is signed, it will give the Villans one of the strongest pools of defensive talent in the English top flight.

Harry Kane could be joined by a fellow Englishman at Bayern Munich if the Bundesliga giants decide to step up their interest in one of Chelsea‘s transfer targets.

A move to the Allianz Arena has worked out for Kane, who joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur back in the summer of 2023. The England captain got his hands on silverware for the first time in his career and has delivered record-breaking goalscoring numbers.

Leaving English football is becoming increasingly popular, and Jude Bellingham is another member of the Three Lions team flourishing at Real Madrid in Spain. Their exploits are exactly why other Englishmen find moving abroad appealing.

Gibbs-White on Bayern Munich Radar

Bayern are hoping that’s the case for Morgan Gibbs-White, whom they have reportedly added to their shortlist. A report from Daily Mail Sport claims that the Bavarians will weigh up a move for the Nottingham Forest midfielder if Michael Olise joins Real Madrid.

Gibbs-White enjoyed a red-hot second half of the 2025-26 campaign and finished the season with 15 goals and four assists in 37 league games. His performances for the Tricky Trees haven’t gone unnoticed and the German champions aren’t the only ones interested.

Chelsea are said to have shown “growing interest” in the 26-year-old earlier this summer, but he wants to play Champions League football. That is likely to rule out a move to Stamford Bridge and while the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City have been linked in the past, they don’t appear to be looking to sign him this summer.

Bayern could be aided by Premier League clubs often preferring to sell their star players abroad rather than to a domestic rival. But in any case it could take a massive fee to sign the former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder.

A report from The Telegraph earlier this summer suggested that Forest are valuing Gibbs-White at around £125 million. They are using Elliot Anderson’s £116m switch to Manchester City as a yardstick.

Forest Stance Over Gibbs-White

Forest handed Gibbs-White a new contract worth £100,000 per week after Tottenham Hotspur tried signing the English playmaker last summer. He became the first player in the club’s history to be offered such a lucrative deal and owner Evangelos Marinakis ensured the Tricky Trees kept their star man.

As last season drew to a close, Anderson leaving the City Ground felt inevitable amid growing talk of a move to City or United. That hasn’t been the case for Gibbs-White, dubbed “sensational”, who has been at the club since 2022.

The report claims that Oliver Glasner’s appointment has had a positive impact on him. The higher-ups are hopeful the Austrian can develop him much like he did with Olise, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace.

Forest don’t want to sell Gibbs-White unless they receive an offer that is too attractive to turn down. For the player, he may be eager to prove his worth and get in the England squad after missing out on the World Cup.