Sports

The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018 

Ranker Sports
Updated November 21, 2019 36k votes 4.1k voters 14.7k views 200 items

List Rules The best all-around athletes in their respective sports. Vote based on their 2018 performance only.

When it comes to being an all-around best athlete, you're not just talking about the leading scorers of all time, or the best quarterbacks. An all-around great athlete offers the best of both worlds. Whether that's being a league leader on offense and defense, or finishing first in the both the 100 and 1000-meter race, all-around athletes are certainly not one-trick ponies. In more rare cases, all-around athletes even transition from sport to sport, dominating in any. Here on this list, however, is a round up of the best in their sport. So, who are your picks for the best all-around athletes of 2018?

From offensive and defensive powerhouse and NBA star Lebron James to the home-run-slugging and play-making Aaron Judge, the sports world has seen some serious all-around talent in 2018. But these big names aren't the only athletes making waves in their sports, as players like Kevin Durant and Nolan Arenado (respectively) are both giving them a run for their money. Of course, we can't forget stars of the NHL, top soccer players, tennis players, track-and-field greats, and so on. 

On that note, take a look at the list of all-around best athletes below, and vote up those you think have performed best throughout 2018. Feel free to add any missing athletes to the list.

list ordered by
1
Luka Modrić is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
AdamAmroun1 added Age: 34

Birthplace: Zadar, Croatia

Nationality: Croatia

Team: Dinamo Zagreb

Profession: Footballer, Football player

Position: Midfielder

Luka Modrić (Croatian pronunciation: [lûːka mǒːdritɕ]; born 9 September 1985) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and is the ...more

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#11 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #2 of 357 The Best Current Soccer Players #2 of 103 Coolest Soccer Players

2
Roger Federer is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 38

Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland

Nationality: South Africa, Switzerland

Profession: Athlete, Tennis player

← Roger Federer (German pronunciation: [ˈrɔdʒər ˈfeːdərər]; born 8 August 1981) is a Swiss professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 3 in men's singles tennis by the ...more

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#3 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #9 of 258 The Greatest Men's Tennis Players of All Time #1 of 89 The Greatest Male Tennis Players of the Open Era

3
LeBron James is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 35

Birthplace: Akron, Ohio

Nationality: United States of America

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Profession: Basketball Player

Position: Small forward, Power forward, Point forward

LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His accomplishments ...more

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4
Angelique Kerber is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 31

Birthplace: Bremen, Germany

Nationality: Germany, Poland

Profession: Tennis player

Angelique Kerber (German: [ʔandʒɛˈliːk ˈkɛɐ̯bɐ]; born 18 January 1988) is a German professional tennis player. A former world No. 1 and winner of three Grand Slam tournaments, she made her ...more

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#93 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #511 of 677 Rank the Sexiest Current Female Athletes #57 of 229 The Best Female Athletes of All Time

5
Cristiano Ronaldo is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 34

Birthplace: Santo António, Portugal

Nationality: Portugal

Team: Juventus

Profession: Footballer, Football player, Fashion entrepreneur

Position: Forward, Midfielder

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM (European Portuguese: [kɾiʃˈtjɐnu ʁoˈnaɫdu]; born 5 February 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club ...more

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#66 of 274 The Hottest Men Of 2020, Ranked #3 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #739 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time

6
Novak Djokovic is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 32

Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia

Nationality: Serbia

Profession: Actor, Athlete, Tennis player

Novak Djokovic (Serbian: Новак Ђоковић, romanized: Novak Đoković, pronounced [nôʋaːk dʑôːkoʋitɕ] (listen); born 22 May 1987) is a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ...more

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#87 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #327 of 469 The Greatest Entertainers of All Time #5 of 258 The Greatest Men's Tennis Players of All Time

7
Maria Sharapova is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 32

Birthplace: Nyagan, Russia

Nationality: Russia

Profession: Athlete, Model, Tennis player

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (Russian: Мари́я Ю́рьевна Шара́пова, IPA: [mɐˈrʲijə ˈjʉrʲjɪvnə ʂɐˈrapəvə] (listen); born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player. A United States ...more

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#162 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #324 of 469 The Greatest Entertainers of All Time #136 of 410 The Most Beautiful Women Of 2020, Ranked

8
Robert Lewandowski is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 31

Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland

Nationality: Poland

Team: Borussia Dortmund

Profession: Soccer Player

Position: Forward

Robert Lewandowski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈrɔbɛrt lɛvanˈdɔfskʲi] (listen); born 21 August 1988) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bayern Munich and is the captain ...more

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#40 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #359 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #7 of 357 The Best Current Soccer Players

9
Kylian Mbappé is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
AdamAmroun1 added Age: 19

Birthplace: Paris, France

Team: Paris Saint-Germain

Position: Forward

Kylian Mbappé Lottin is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. Mbappé came into prominence at an early age, ...more

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#147 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #2,115 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #16 of 357 The Best Current Soccer Players

10
Rafael Nadal is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 33

Birthplace: Manacor, Spain

Nationality: Spain

Profession: Athlete, Tennis player

Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera (Catalan: [rəf(ə)ˈɛl nəˈðal pəˈɾeɾə], Spanish: [rafaˈel naˈðal paˈɾeɾa]; born 3 June 1986) is a Spanish professional tennis player, currently ranked ...more

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#29 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #412 of 532 Famous Men You'd Want to Have a Beer With #286 of 343 The Most Obnoxious Athletes

11
Mohamed Salah is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
SidPrasad added Mohamed Salah Age: 27

Birthplace: Basyoun, Egypt

Nationality: Egypt

Team: Mokawloon al-Arab

Profession: Athlete, Footballer, Football player

Position: Forward

Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly (born 15 June 1992) is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Egypt national team. Considered one ...more
12
Neymar is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 27

Birthplace: Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil

Nationality: Brazil

Team: Brazil national football team

Profession: Footballer, Football player

Position: Forward

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (Brazilian Portuguese: [nejˈmaʁ dɐ ˈsiwvɐ ˈsɐ̃tus ˈʒũɲoʁ]; born 5 February 1992), commonly known as Neymar Jr. or simply Neymar, is a Brazilian professional ...more

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#22 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #1,439 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #3 of 357 The Best Current Soccer Players

13
Nikola Jokic is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
TRENT13 added Age: 24

Birthplace: Sombor, Serbia

Nationality: Serbia

Team: Denver Nuggets

Profession: Basketball player

Position: Center

Nikola Jokić (born February 19, 1995) is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the Serbian national ...more

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#306 of 870 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #4 of 136 The Best European NBA Players of All Time #36 of 168 The Greatest NBA Centers of All Time

14
Lionel Messi is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 32

Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina

Nationality: Argentina, Spain

Team: Argentina national football team

Profession: Footballer, Football player

Position: Forward

Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾez ˈmesi] (listen); born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains ...more

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#2 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #14 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #291 of 2,444 The Most Influential People of All Time

15
Virat Kohli is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
lizzyrocker added Age: 31

Birthplace: Delhi, India

Nationality: India

Profession: Cricketer

Virat Kohli (pronunciation ; born 5 November 1988) is an Indian cricketer who currently captains the India national team. A right-handed top-order batsman, Kohli is regarded as one of the best ...more
16
Serena Williams is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 38

Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan, United States of America

Nationality: United States of America

Profession: Fashion Designer, Fashion designer, Writer, Actor, Athlete, + more

Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is an American professional tennis player and former world No. 1. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranked her world No. 1 in singles on eight ...more

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#20 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #121 of 319 The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models #34 of 343 The Most Obnoxious Athletes

17
Franck Ribéry is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
AdamAmroun1 added Age: 36

Birthplace: Boulogne-sur-Mer, France

Nationality: France

Team: FC Bayern Munich

Profession: Footballer, Football player

Position: Forward, Midfielder

Franck Henry Pierre Ribéry (French pronunciation: ​[fʁɑ̃k ʁibeʁi]; born 7 April 1983) is a French professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Fiorentina. He primarily plays as a ...more

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#91 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #1,820 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #820 of 2,444 The Most Influential People of All Time

18
Lauri Markkanen is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
TRENT13 added

Team: Chicago Bulls

Profession: Athlete

Position: Power forward

Lauri Elias Markkanen (born May 22, 1997) is a Finnish professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the 2017 NBA draft, he was taken by ...more

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#393 of 870 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #24 of 136 The Best European NBA Players of All Time #111 of 243 The Best White Players in NBA History

19
Karim Benzema is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
AdamAmroun1 added Age: 32

Birthplace: Lyon, France

Nationality: France

Team: Olympique Lyonnais

Profession: Footballer, Football player

Position: Forward

Karim Mostafa Benzema (French pronunciation: ​[kaʁim bɛnzema]; born 19 December 1987) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Real Madrid and the France ...more

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#181 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #2,177 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #996 of 1,471 The Greatest Minds of All Time

20
Giorgio Chiellini is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
Age: 35

Birthplace: Pisa, Italy

Nationality: Italy

Team: Juventus F.C.

Profession: Footballer, Football player

Position: Defender

Giorgio Chiellini (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒordʒo kjelˈliːni]; born 14 August 1984) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender and captains both Serie A club Juventus and ...more

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#983 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #225 of 343 The Most Obnoxious Athletes #76 of 464 The Best Soccer Defenders of All Time

21
Mesut Özil is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
AdamAmroun1 added Age: 31

Birthplace: Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Nationality: Germany

Team: FC Schalke 04

Profession: Footballer, Football player

Position: Midfielder

Mesut Özil (German pronunciation: [ˈmeːzut ˈøːzil], Turkish: [meˈsut œˈzil]; born 15 October 1988) is a German professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Arsenal. ...more

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#104 of 1,419 The Best Soccer Players of All Time #31 of 357 The Best Current Soccer Players #1,425 of 1,471 The Greatest Minds of All Time

22
Christian McCaffrey is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
TRENT13 added Christian McCaffrey

Nationality: United States of America

Team: Carolina Panthers

Profession: United States of America

Position: Running back, Return specialist

Christian Jackson McCaffrey (born June 7, 1996) is an American football running back and return specialist for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college ...more
23
Mike Trout is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
TRENT13 added Age: 28

Birthplace: Vineland, New Jersey

Nationality: United States of America

Team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Profession: Baseball Player

Position: Center fielder

Michael Nelson Trout (born August 7, 1991) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). Trout is a eight-time MLB All-Star, ...more

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#25 of 598 The Greatest Baseball Players Of All Time #26 of 709 The Best Hitters in Baseball History #1 of 61 The Most Likable Active MLB Players

24
Patrick Mahomes II is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
TRENT13 added Patrick Mahomes II

Nationality: United States of America

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Profession: Football Player

Position: Quarterback

Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He is the son of former Major League ...more
25
Carson Wentz is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The All-Around Best Athletes of 2018
SuperUnicorn33 added Carson Wentz

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Profession: Football player

Position: Quarterback

Carson James Wentz (born December 30, 1992) is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota ...more

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