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, United States of America
- 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 - Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Profession: American football player
Justin James "J.J." Watt (born March 22, 1989) is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of ...more - Nyagan, Russia
- Profession: Tennis player, Model, Athlete
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 resident ...more - San Diego, California, United States of America
- Profession: Golfer, Author, Athlete
Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, 1970), nicknamed Lefty, is an American professional golfer. He has won 45 events on the PGA Tour, including six major championships: three Masters titles (2004, ...more - Amherst, New York
- Profession: American football player
Robert James Gronkowski (born May 14, 1989), nicknamed "Gronk" is a former American football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. Gronkowski played nine seasons ...more - Moscow, Russia
- Profession: Hockey Player
Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin (born September 17, 1985), often referred to as "Ovi" or "the Great Eight", is a Russian professional ice hockey winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the ...more - Austin, Texas, United States of America
- Profession: Athlete, American football player
Drew Christopher Brees (; born January 15, 1979) is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). After a successful college football career at ...more - Los Angeles, California
- Profession: Basketball player
James Edward Harden Jr. (born August 26, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is one of the NBA's most ...more - Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- Profession: Alpine skier, Athlete
Lindsey Caroline Vonn (née Kildow ; born October 18, 1984) is an American former World Cup alpine ski racer on the US Ski Team. She won four World Cup overall championships—one of only two female ...more - 34Vail, Colorado
- Profession: Alpine skier, Athlete
Mikaela Pauline Shiffrin is an American World Cup alpine ski racer with the U.S. Ski Team, specializing in the technical events of slalom and giant slalom. She is the reigning Olympic, World Cup, and ...more - Heppenheim, Germany
- Profession: Formula One Driver
Sebastian Vettel (born 3 July 1987) is a German racing driver who competes in Formula One for Aston Martin, having previously driven for BMW Sauber, Toro Rosso, Red Bull, and Ferrari. Vettel has won ...more - Volgograd, Russia
- Profession: Track and field athlete
Yelena Gadzhievna Isinbayeva (Russian: Елена Гаджиевна Исинбаева, IPA: [jɪˈlʲɛnə gɐˈdʐɨjɪvnə ɪsʲɪnˈbajɪvə]; born 3 June 1982) is a Russian former pole vaulter. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist ...more - Bethesda, Maryland
- Profession: Swimmer
Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky is an American competition swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and current world record-holder in multiple events. She is the current world record holder in the 400-, 800-, and ...more - Vineland, New JerseyMichael 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, received ...more
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
- Profession: Athlete, Biathlete
Laura Dahlmeier is a German biathlete. Dahlmeier started in her first world cup races in the 2012/13-season. In 2014 she participated in the Winter Olympics in Sochi. She was officially nominated by ...more - Riverside, California
- Profession: Basketball player
Kawhi Anthony Leonard (born June 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played two seasons of college ...more - Bolton, United Kingdom
- Profession: Athlete
Jason Francis Kenny, (born 23 March 1988) is a British track cyclist, specialising in the individual and team sprints. After winning multiple World and European Junior titles in 2006 and achieving ...more - Sendai, Japan
- Profession: Figure Skater, Athlete
Yuzuru Hanyu (羽生結弦, Hanyū Yuzuru, born December 7, 1994) is a Japanese figure skater who competes in the men's singles discipline. He is a two-time Olympic champion (2014, 2018), a two-time World ...more - Chico, California
- Profession: Athlete, American football player
Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Rodgers played college football for the California ...more - Fuentealbilla, Spain
- Profession: Footballer
Andrés Iniesta Luján (Spanish pronunciation: [anˈdɾes iˈnjesta luˈxan]; born 11 May 1984) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Japanese club Vissel Kobe. He ...more - Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
- Profession: Basketball player, Athlete
Christopher Emmanuel Paul (born May 6, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has won the NBA Rookie of the Year ...more - 46DeLeon Springs, Florida
- Profession: Baseball player
Jacob Anthony deGrom (born June 19, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Prior to playing professionally, deGrom attended Stetson ...more - Annaberg-Lungötz, Austria
- Profession: Alpine skier, Athlete
Marcel Hirscher (born 2 March 1989) is an Austrian World Cup alpine ski racer. Hirscher made his World Cup debut in March 2007. He competes primarily in slalom and giant slalom, as well as combined ...more - San Diego, California, United States of America
- Profession: Snowboarder, Skateboarder
Shaun Roger White (born September 3, 1986) is an American professional snowboarder, skateboarder and musician. He is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. He holds the record for the most X-Games gold ...more - Exton, Pennsylvania
- Profession: Football Player
Matthew Thomas Ryan (born May 17, 1985) is an American football quarterback and team captain for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for ...more - Long Beach, California
- Profession: Basketball player
Russell Westbrook III (born November 12, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a nine-time NBA All-Star ...more - Belgrade, Serbia
- Profession: Tennis player
Ana Ivanovic Schweinsteiger (Serbian: Ана Швајнштајгер / Ana Švajnštajger; born 6 November 1987), professionally known by her maiden name Ana Ivanovic (Ана Ивановић / Ana Ivanović, pronounced [âna ...more - 52Linden, CaliforniaAaron James Judge (born April 26, 1992) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Judge was unanimously selected as the American League ...more
- Melbourne, Australia
- Profession: Basketball player
Kyrie Andrew Irving (born March 23, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was named NBA Rookie of the Year after ...more - Dallas, Texas
- Profession: Golfer
Jordan Alexander Spieth (born July 27, 1993) is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour and former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking. He is a three-time major winner and the ...more - Stefanos Tsitsipas (born 12 August 1998) is a Greek professional tennis player. He is the youngest player ranked in the top 10 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and has a career-high ...more
- Delran Township, New Jersey
- Profession: Footballer
Carli Anne Hollins (née Lloyd; born July 16, 1982) is an American soccer player. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008 and 2012), two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion (2015 and 2019), ...more - Tri-Cities, Richland, Washington
- Profession: Footballer
Hope Amelia Solo (born July 30, 1981) is an American former soccer goalkeeper. She was a goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team from 2000 to 2016, and is a World Cup champion ...more - Redwood City, California
- Profession: American football player
Julian Francis Edelman (born May 22, 1986) is an American football wide receiver and punt returner for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at ...more - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Profession: Football Player
Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. (born November 5, 1992) is an American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Beckham ...more - Miami, Florida
- Profession: American football player
Antonio Tavaris Brown Sr. (born July 10, 1988) is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Raised in Liberty City, Miami, Brown attended Miami Norland High School, where he ...more - Cincinnati, Ohio
- Profession: Football Player
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Wilson initially played college football and ...more - Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- Profession: Professional Boxer
Tonya Maxene Price née Harding (born November 12, 1970) is an American former figure skater, retired boxer, and reality television personality. A native of Portland, Oregon, Harding was raised ...more - Dewsbury, England
- Profession: Triathlete
Alistair Edward Brownlee, MBE (born 23 April 1988) is a British triathlete. He is the only athlete to hold two Olympic titles in the triathlon event, winning gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic ...more - Holywood, Bangor, United Kingdom
- Profession: Golfer
Rory McIlroy MBE (born 4 May 1989) is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who is a member of both the European and PGA Tours. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf ...more - Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Profession: American football player
Larry Darnell Fitzgerald Jr. (born August 31, 1983) is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, ...more - Atlanta, Georgia
- Profession: American football player
Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida and Auburn. He ...more - Melbourne, Australia
- Profession: Rower
Alexander Mahé Owens Drysdale (born 19 November 1978) is a New Zealand rower. Drysdale is the current Olympic champion and five-time World champion in the single sculls. The name Mahé comes from the ...more - Falmouth, Jamaica
- Profession: Coach, Track and field athlete
Benjamin Sinclair Johnson (born December 30, 1961) is a Jamaican-born Canadian former sprinter, who was disqualified for doping after finishing third in two Olympic races and two consecutive 100 ...more - Bagan Serai, Malaysia
- Profession: Athlete
Datuk Lee Chong Wei (born 21 October 1982) is a retired Malaysian professional badminton player. As a singles player, Lee was ranked first worldwide for 349 weeks, these including a 199-week streak ...more - Foley, Alabama
- Profession: American football player
Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones (; born February 8, 1989) is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at ...more - Dallas, Texas
- Profession: Baseball player
Clayton Edward Kershaw (born March 19, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starting pitcher, Kershaw has ...more - Aaron Charles Donald (born May 23, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he ...more
- Long Beach, California
- Profession: Snowboarder
Chloe Kim (born April 23, 2000) is an American snowboarder. She is a 2018 Winter Olympics gold medalist, four-time X Games gold medalist and the first woman to win a gold medal in snowboarding at the ...more - Mizusawa, Iwate
- Profession: Baseball player
Shohei Ohtani (born July 5, 1994) is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Hokkaido ...more - Glendale, California
- Profession: Basketball player, Athlete
Diana Lorena Taurasi (born June 11, 1982) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia. ...more - Markus Lynn "Mookie" Betts (born October 7, 1992) is an American professional baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the ...more
- Reynoldsburg, OhioLe'Veon Andrew Bell Sr. (/ˈleɪviɒn/ LAY-vee-on; born February 18, 1992) is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football ...more
- Norcross, GeorgiaAlvin Mentian Kamara (born July 25, 1995) is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played high school football for the Blue Devils ...more
- Carson James Wentz (born December 30, 1992) is an American football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State ...more
- Tarboro, North CarolinaTodd Jerome Gurley II (born August 3, 1994) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia where he earned ...more
- Miami, Florida
- Profession: Baseball player
Manuel Arturo Machado (born July 6, 1992) is a Dominican-American professional baseball third baseman and shortstop for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). Very highly recruited from ...more - 82Miami, Florida
- Profession: Baseball player
Julio Daniel Martinez (born August 21, 1987) is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played in MLB for ...more - Arlington Heights, IllinoisJames Richard Garoppolo (born November 2, 1991) is an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Illinois ...more
- Panorama City, Los Angeles, California
- Profession: Baseball player
Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton (born November 8, 1989), formerly known as Mike Stanton, is an American outfielder and designated hitter for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He ...more - 85Sherbrooke, CanadaGordon Alexander McRae (born April 12, 1948 in Sherbrooke, Quebec) is a retired professional hockey goaltender. He played in 71 regular season and 8 playoff games for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the ...more
NFL CB
Marshon Demond Lattimore is an American football cornerback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, and was drafted by the Saints ...more- Venezuela
Gleyber Torres is a second baseman for the New York Yankees. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela.
Gleyber David Castro Torres (born December 13, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman and shortstop for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut ...more - Hangzhou, China
- Profession: Swimmer
Sun Yang (Chinese: 孙杨; pinyin: Sūn Yáng; Mandarin pronunciation: [swə́n.jǎŋ]; born 1 December 1991) is a Chinese Olympic and world-record-holding competitive swimmer. In 2012, he became the first ...more