Who Is The Most Famous Athlete In The World Right Now?
When it comes to the most famous athletes in the world right now, a select few names easily top the list. Not only that, but many of these popular players are also some of the best athletes in their respective sport. However, while skill and statistics are surely major factors in ranking athletes by fame, the most famous athlete out doesn't have to be the very best—especially not on this list. In short, it's up to you fans to decide just who takes the title for the most famous athlete, as well as those who follow close behind.
For starters, we all know famous male athletes like Lebron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Roger Federer will find themselves high on the list. Then you have top female athletes like Serena Williams and Hope Solo. Keep in mind, though, the sport isn't necessarily a factor here. Whether you consider natural talent or straight statistics in determining who's the most famous, that's your choice. Perhaps it's who you see on TV the most in 2021, or those with the most endorsements. Whatever it is, give your input as to who makes the list of best athletes today with the most fame in 2021.
Cast your votes for the most famous athletes below, and feel free to add any athletes missing from the list.
- Rosario, Argentina
- Profession: Footballer
Lionel "Leo" Andrés Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team. Often considered the best player in ...more - Santo António, Portugal
- Profession: Footballer
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (born 5 February 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Juventus and captains the Portugal national team. Often ...more - Akron, Ohio, USA
- Profession: Basketball player, Television producer, Screenwriter, Athlete, Voice acting
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 include ...more - New York City, New York
- Profession: Spokesperson, Basketball player, Entrepreneur, Actor, Athlete
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American former professional basketball player and the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National ...more - Sherwood Content, Jamaica
- Profession: Track and field athlete
Usain St Leo Bolt (; born 21 August 1986) is a retired Jamaican sprinter. He is a world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay. Owing to his achievements and dominance ...more - Akron, Ohio, United States of America
- Profession: Basketball player
Wardell Stephen "Steph" Curry II (born March 14, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A six-time NBA ...more - Saginaw, Michigan, United States of America
- Profession: Tennis Player
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 - Cypress, California, United States of America
- Profession: Golfer, Athlete, Writer
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He ranks second all-time in both men's major championships and PGA Tour wins and also holds numerous golf ...more - San Mateo, California, United States of America
- Profession: American football player
Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. (born August 3, 1977) is a former American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for ...more - Basel, Switzerland
- Profession: Tennis player
Roger Federer (born 8 August 1981) is a Swiss professional tennis player. He has been ranked world No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 310 weeks, including a record 237 ...more - John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. (; born April 23, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and TV personality. As a wrestler, he is currently signed to WWE. As a TV personality, he is ...more
- Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil
- Profession: Footballer
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (born 5 February 1992), commonly known as Neymar Jr. or simply Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for French club Paris Saint-Germain ...more - Conor Anthony McGregor (born July 14, 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial artist and boxer. He is the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight and lightweight champion. ...more
- Manacor, Spain
- Profession: Tennis player, Athlete
Rafael Nadal Parera (born 3 June 1986) is a Spanish professional tennis player. He is ranked world No. 5 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), has been ranked No. 1 for 209 weeks, and has ...more - Croxteth, United Kingdom
- Profession: Soccer Player, Footballer
Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays for American MLS club D.C. United. He has played much of his career as a forward, and he has also been used in ...more - Malmö Municipality, Sweden
- Profession: Footballer
Zlatan Ibrahimović (born 3 October 1981) is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club AC Milan and the Sweden national team. He is widely regarded as one of the ...more - Belgrade, Serbia
- Profession: Tennis Player
Novak Djokovic (born 22 May 1987) is a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 1 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).Djokovic has won ...more - Delhi, 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 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany
- Profession: Footballer
Manuel Peter Neuer (born 27 March 1986) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper and captain for both Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. Neuer has been described as a ...more - Ranchi, India
- Profession: Cricketer, Actor
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (pronunciation born 7 July 1981), commonly known as MS Dhoni, is an Indian international cricketer who captained the Indian national team in limited-overs formats from 2007 to ...more - Makhachkala, RussiaKhabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov is an Avar-Russian mixed martial artist. He is a multiple Combat Sambo World Champion and a Judo black belt who is currently fighting in the lightweight division ...more
- Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Profession: Basketball player, Actor, Athlete
Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college ...more - Lynwood, California, United States of America
- Profession: Tennis player, Entrepreneur, Writer
Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born June 17, 1980) is an American professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 52 in the WTA singles rankings. She is generally credited with ushering in ...more - Halifax, Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada
- Profession: Ice Hockey Player, Athlete
Sidney Patrick Crosby (born August 7, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who serves as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Sid the Kid" ...more - 25Basyoun, Egypt
- Profession: Athlete, Footballer
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 of ...more