There is no universally accepted answer to the question “who is the best sports player of all time?” because athletes compete in completely different sports, with different rules, levels of competition and ways of measuring success.
However, Michael Jordan has one of the strongest overall claims to being the greatest sports player of all time. His combination of dominance, championships, individual awards, longevity at an elite level and worldwide cultural influence makes him a leading choice in the all-time debate.
Jordan is not the only reasonable answer. Athletes such as Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Gretzky and LeBron James have exceptional cases of their own. The answer ultimately depends on what you value most when judging greatness.
Why Michael Jordan Has Such a Strong Case
Jordan’s career with the Chicago Bulls produced an extraordinary combination of individual and team success.
He won six NBA championships and was named NBA Finals MVP six times. He also won five regular-season NBA MVP awards. ESPN’s ranking of the greatest NBA players placed Jordan at No. 1 and described him as the greatest basketball player of all time.
What makes his case particularly strong is that Jordan’s success was not limited to scoring.
He was an elite offensive player, an exceptional defender and one of the most competitive players of his generation. His ability to influence games on both ends of the court helped make him one of the most dominant players basketball has ever produced.
His six championships also came without a Finals series loss. Jordan’s Bulls went 6–0 in the NBA Finals during his six championship appearances.
Jordan’s Impact Went Beyond Basketball
Jordan’s influence extended far beyond his statistics and trophies.
He became one of the most recognizable athletes in the world and helped transform the commercial side of professional sports. His partnership with Nike and the popularity of the Air Jordan brand became a major part of sports culture.
That cultural influence matters when discussing the greatest sports player rather than simply the greatest player in a particular league.
A great athlete can dominate a sport without becoming a worldwide cultural icon. Jordan managed to do both.
ESPN’s SportsCentury project named Jordan the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century after a panel of journalists and sports observers evaluated the athletes.
A later Harris Poll also placed Jordan first among the greatest athletes in history, ahead of Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali.
Those polls do not prove that Jordan is objectively the greatest athlete, but they demonstrate how consistently his name has appeared near the top of all-time discussions.
Muhammad Ali Has an Exceptional Claim
If greatness includes sporting ability, personality, cultural influence and historical importance, Muhammad Ali is one of Jordan’s strongest competitors.
Ali became a three-time world heavyweight champion and was one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century.
His importance went beyond boxing. His outspoken personality, political views, humanitarian work and willingness to challenge expectations made him a cultural figure far beyond the boxing ring.
ESPN’s SportsCentury ranking placed Ali third among its greatest North American athletes of the 20th century, behind Jordan and Babe Ruth.
Ali’s case becomes particularly strong if cultural influence and historical significance are weighted heavily.
Michael Phelps Has the Strongest Olympic Résumé
If the definition of “best” is based primarily on measurable Olympic achievement, Michael Phelps has an extraordinary case.
Phelps won 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold medals, making him the most decorated Olympian in history.
ESPN has specifically described Phelps as the greatest American athlete of all time, emphasizing his Olympic record and noting that his 23 gold medals are far ahead of anyone else’s total.
His achievement is particularly impressive because swimming requires him to compete in multiple events while maintaining an elite level of performance over several Olympic Games.
However, comparing Phelps with Jordan is difficult. Swimming provides opportunities to compete in numerous individual events at a single Olympics, while basketball players have a very different competitive structure.
That is why medal counts alone cannot completely settle the broader GOAT debate.
Usain Bolt Has a Case Based on Dominance
Usain Bolt is another athlete with an unusually strong claim.
The Jamaican sprinter became the dominant figure in the 100-meter and 200-meter events and won multiple Olympic gold medals.
Sprint events are particularly useful for all-time comparisons because the results are measured directly by time. There is little ambiguity about who crosses the finish line first.
Bolt’s combination of Olympic success, world records and dominance over his rivals makes him one of the clearest examples of an athlete controlling a sport.
His nickname, “the fastest man in the world,” also became part of his global identity.
If your definition of the best athlete focuses heavily on dominance in a single physical discipline, Bolt becomes a very strong candidate.
Serena Williams Deserves to Be in the Conversation
Serena Williams is one of the strongest candidates for the greatest female sports player of all time and one of the strongest overall candidates.
She won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in the Open Era.
Williams also maintained an elite level for an unusually long period. Her career included multiple generations of competitors, yet she continued to win major tournaments well into her 30s.
Her influence also extended beyond tennis. She became a major cultural and business figure and helped increase visibility for women’s sports.
In ESPN’s 2015 reporting on the Harris Poll’s all-time athlete rankings, Serena Williams was already ranked among the top five athletes, alongside Jordan, Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali and Peyton Manning.
Lionel Messi Has a Powerful Soccer Case
For soccer, Lionel Messi is one of the most compelling candidates.
Messi’s case is based on a combination of individual awards, scoring and playmaking, club success and international achievement.
He won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2022, adding the biggest international trophy in men’s soccer to a career that had already included numerous major club and individual honors.
Soccer presents an interesting challenge in GOAT discussions because the sport has an enormous worldwide player pool and competition across many countries.
Messi’s supporters point to his technical ability, creativity, consistency and ability to influence games in multiple ways.
Cristiano Ronaldo Is Another Major Contender
Cristiano Ronaldo has an equally famous claim to soccer greatness.
Ronaldo has combined elite scoring, longevity, physical conditioning and success across multiple leagues.
His career is particularly remarkable for its duration. Remaining an elite goal scorer for so many years requires extraordinary physical preparation and adaptability.
Ronaldo and Messi have dominated soccer’s individual-award conversation for much of the modern era, making comparisons between the two unavoidable.
Choosing between them depends partly on what qualities a person values most. Messi is often praised for creativity and playmaking, while Ronaldo’s supporters emphasize goal scoring, athleticism, aerial ability, mentality and longevity.
Wayne Gretzky’s Hockey Case
In hockey, Wayne Gretzky is perhaps the clearest all-time example of statistical dominance.
Gretzky’s offensive numbers were so extraordinary that his records remain central to discussions about hockey greatness.
He won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers and dominated the NHL’s scoring categories throughout his career.
His dominance was also recognized in ESPN’s SportsCentury list, where he ranked fifth among the greatest North American athletes of the 20th century.
Gretzky’s case is a reminder that greatness can be demonstrated through overwhelming statistical superiority, not just championships.
LeBron James Complicates the Jordan Debate
Within basketball, the biggest challenge to Jordan’s status is LeBron James.
LeBron has an extraordinary combination of longevity, statistics, championships and versatility.
Unlike Jordan, whose career was shorter, LeBron has maintained an elite level for an exceptionally long time. He has also succeeded with multiple franchises and demonstrated the ability to score, pass, rebound and defend at a high level.
ESPN’s GOAT debate has repeatedly examined Jordan versus LeBron, with analysts differing on whether Jordan’s peak dominance or LeBron’s longevity and all-around production should receive more weight.
This is why even basketball fans do not universally agree on Jordan.
How Should We Decide Who Is the Best?
A useful way to approach the question is to consider several categories rather than one statistic.
| Factor | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Peak performance | How dominant the athlete was at their best |
| Longevity | How long they remained elite |
| Championships | Success in major team or individual competitions |
| Individual awards | Recognition of personal excellence |
| Statistical dominance | How far the athlete exceeded competitors |
| Versatility | Ability to influence competition in different ways |
| Competition | Quality and depth of the opposition |
| Cultural impact | Influence beyond the sport |
| Global influence | Recognition and impact around the world |
No athlete is guaranteed to win every category.
Jordan has an exceptional peak and cultural-impact case. Phelps has the strongest Olympic résumé. Bolt has extraordinary speed and dominance. Serena has an outstanding tennis résumé and longevity. Messi and Ronaldo have enormous global soccer achievements. Gretzky has remarkable statistical dominance.
Why There Can Never Be a Perfect Answer
The biggest problem with an all-time sports ranking is that sports are fundamentally different.
How do you compare a swimmer with a basketball player?
A swimmer can win multiple Olympic events during one Games. A basketball player has one championship opportunity each season and must work within a team.
A tennis player controls more of the outcome individually than a football quarterback. A boxer competes far less frequently than a baseball player.
Even the meaning of “dominance” changes from sport to sport.
Because of this, an all-time ranking should be treated as an informed opinion rather than an objective scientific measurement.
A Reasonable All-Time Shortlist
If the goal is to identify athletes who have the strongest overall claims, a shortlist might include:
- Michael Jordan — extraordinary peak, championships and cultural influence
- Muhammad Ali — boxing dominance and enormous cultural significance
- Michael Phelps — unmatched Olympic résumé
- Serena Williams — extraordinary tennis achievement and longevity
- Lionel Messi — historic soccer career and international success
- Cristiano Ronaldo — scoring, longevity and global influence
- Usain Bolt — extraordinary sprint dominance
- Wayne Gretzky — remarkable hockey dominance
- LeBron James — longevity, production and versatility
The order is debatable, but these athletes represent many of the strongest arguments for all-time greatness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is considered the best sports player of all time?
There is no official worldwide answer. Michael Jordan is one of the most frequently cited choices, particularly because of his combination of championships, individual awards, dominance and cultural influence. ESPN’s historical SportsCentury ranking placed him first among North American athletes of the 20th century.
Is Michael Jordan the greatest athlete ever?
Jordan has one of the strongest cases, but calling him the undisputed greatest athlete across every sport is subjective. Athletes such as Phelps, Ali, Serena Williams, Messi, Ronaldo, Bolt and Gretzky have equally compelling arguments based on different criteria.
Who is the greatest Olympic athlete?
Michael Phelps is generally considered the greatest Olympian based on his record 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold medals. ESPN has highlighted his unprecedented Olympic medal total when discussing the greatest American athletes.
Who is the greatest soccer player of all time?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two most common modern candidates. The answer depends on whether someone prioritizes creativity, playmaking, goal scoring, longevity, international success or other factors.
Who is the greatest basketball player of all time?
Michael Jordan remains a leading choice. ESPN’s all-time NBA ranking placed Jordan first, while acknowledging the continuing debate surrounding LeBron James.
Who is the greatest female athlete of all time?
There is no universally accepted answer, but Serena Williams is one of the strongest candidates. Other major contenders include Simone Biles, Martina Navratilova and other historically dominant athletes.
The Bottom Line
Michael Jordan is one of the strongest answers to “who is the best sports player of all time,” but there is no universally official GOAT.
Jordan’s six NBA championships, six Finals MVP awards, five regular-season MVP awards and enormous cultural influence give him an exceptional case. Historical polls and ESPN’s SportsCentury project have also repeatedly placed him at or near the top of all-time athlete discussions.
But the answer changes depending on the criteria. Michael Phelps has the greatest Olympic résumé, Usain Bolt has extraordinary sprint dominance, Serena Williams has an exceptional tennis legacy, and Messi, Ronaldo, Gretzky and LeBron James each have compelling cases within their sports.
The most accurate conclusion is that Michael Jordan is a leading overall choice, rather than an undisputed universal answer. Comparing athletes across completely different sports will always involve some degree of judgment.