You know how sports arguments go at bars or family gatherings? Everyone's got their GOAT picks - Jordan vs LeBron, Serena vs Graf, Brady vs Montana. That's where ESPN's Top 100 Athletes list becomes the ultimate reference. I remember last summer when my uncle nearly spilled his beer arguing that Shaq should've been higher ranked. Good times.
As a sports journalist who's covered this stuff for twelve years, I've seen how ESPN's Top 100 Athletes ranking has become the gold standard. But what makes it tick? How do they decide? And why do certain athletes leapfrog others between editions? That's what we're unpacking today.
Behind the Curtain: How ESPN Builds Their Top 100
ESPN doesn't just throw darts at a board. Their methodology is actually pretty rigorous. For the latest ESPN's Top 100 Athletes of the 21st Century edition, they assembled a panel of 70 experts - Hall of Fame players, respected journalists, analysts with decades of experience. Each submitted their personal top 100, then ESPN crunched the numbers using a Borda count system (fancy math that weights higher rankings more heavily).
Criteria they consider:
- Dominance during prime years - Not just longevity but peak performance
- Impact beyond their sport - Cultural significance, like Ali or Serena
- Championship success - Rings matter, though not everything
- Athletic excellence - Pure physical prowess and innovation
- Global influence - Especially important post-2000
The full voting breakdown gets released online about two weeks after the main reveal. That's when the real nerdy debates start.
Honestly? I think they overweight recent athletes. When I covered the 2018 list release, multiple vintage baseball writers complained that pre-1980 athletes got shortchanged. They had a point - only 14 athletes from before 1970 cracked the top 100.
The Heavy Hitters: Breaking Down the Top 20
Let's get to what you came for - the cream of the crop. ESPN's Top 100 Athletes list always sparks debate, but the top tier usually features familiar legends. Here's how the latest edition shook out:
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Key Achievements | Change vs Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jordan | Basketball | 6× NBA champ, 5× MVP, 14× All-Star | No change |
| 2 | LeBron James | Basketball | 4× NBA champ, All-time scoring leader, 19× All-Star | ▲ 1 |
| 3 | Muhammad Ali | Boxing | 3× heavyweight champ, Olympic gold | ▼ 1 |
| 4 | Babe Ruth | Baseball | 7× World Series, 12× HR leader | No change |
| 5 | Wayne Gretzky | Hockey | 4× Stanley Cup, 61 NHL records | No change |
| 6 | Serena Williams | Tennis | 23 Grand Slams, Olympic gold ×4 | ▲ 3 |
| 7 | Jim Brown | Football | 3× MVP, 8× rushing leader | ▼ 1 |
| 8 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | 5× Ballon d'Or, 32 trophies | NEW |
| 9 | Tom Brady | Football | 7× Super Bowl champ, 3× MVP | ▲ 5 |
| 10 | Usain Bolt | Athletics | 8 Olympic golds, 100m/200m WR holder | ▼ 2 |
Biggest Movers and Shakers
Tom Brady jumping five spots surprised nobody after that seventh ring. But Cristiano Ronaldo entering directly at #8? That caused chatter. Soccer purists felt Messi should've been first, but Ronaldo's global brand power likely tipped the scales. Personally, I think both deserve top-15 placement.
The biggest climber was Simone Biles (+12 spots to #23). Her Tokyo Olympics withdrawal actually boosted her cultural standing - it reframed mental health in sports. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods slipped seven spots to #15 after injury-plagued years. Harsh but fair.
The Headscratchers
Two divisive picks always emerge in ESPN's Top 100 Athletes rankings. This year, Shohei Ohtani at #42 felt low to me. The guy's literally reinventing baseball as a two-way player. And why is Nadal (#28) behind Federer (#24)? Their Grand Slam counts are virtually identical. ESPN favors cultural impact over pure stats sometimes.
Sport-by-Sport Breakdown
What sports dominate ESPN's Top 100 Athletes? The distribution tells its own story about American sports culture:
| Sport | Athletes in Top 100 | Highest Ranked | Interesting Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basketball | 24 | MJ (#1) | Most represented sport |
| Football (NFL) | 19 | Jim Brown (#7) | Brady is highest active (#9) |
| Baseball | 15 | Babe Ruth (#4) | Oldest sport in top 5 |
| Tennis | 8 | Serena Williams (#6) | Only sport with 3 women in top 30 |
| Soccer | 7 | Cristiano Ronaldo (#8) | Fastest growing representation |
| Boxing | 6 | Muhammad Ali (#3) | Highest per-capita ranking |
| Track & Field | 5 | Usain Bolt (#10) | All sprinters/jumpers |
| Golf | 4 | Tiger Woods (#15) | Steepest decline (avg -5 spots) |
Notice anything missing? Exactly. Only two cyclists made it (Eddy Merckx #41, Lance Armstrong removed). And NASCAR? Zero. This fuels debates about ESPN's American bias. Why include global icons like Ronaldo but exclude MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi?
I once asked an ESPN producer about this at a media event. His response: "Our audience expects certain sports." Fair, but disappointing. Athletes like surfer Kelly Slater (#89) barely made it despite dominating his sport for 30 years.
Women on the List: Progress and Gaps
ESPN's Top 100 Athletes list historically skewed male, but the 2023 edition featured 18 women - an all-time high. Still just 18%. Serena Williams remains the highest-ranked woman (#6), followed by gymnast Simone Biles (#23) and soccer star Megan Rapinoe (#47).
Notable inclusions:
- Naomi Osaka (#59) - First Asian tennis player listed
- Allyson Felix (#74) - Most decorated US track athlete
- Marta (#92) - Soccer icon from Brazil
But where's Katie Ledecky? The swimmer owns 7 Olympic golds and 15 world titles. Or Yelena Isinbayeva, who broke 28 pole vault records? Critics argue ESPN prioritizes marketability over pure achievement for women. I tend to agree - Lindsey Vonn (#99) made it while more decorated skiers didn't.
The GOAT Debate: Jordan vs LeBron
No ESPN's Top 100 Athletes discussion is complete without this. Jordan holds #1, LeBron #2. Why? Let's compare:
| Metric | Michael Jordan | LeBron James |
|---|---|---|
| Championships | 6 | 4 |
| Finals MVP | 6 | 4 |
| Season MVP | 5 | 4 |
| All-Star Selections | 14 | 19 |
| Scoring Titles | 10 | 1 |
| Global Impact | Made NBA global | Social justice leadership |
ESPN's panel valued Jordan's perfect Finals record and cultural explosion. But LeBron's longevity is insane - 20 seasons of elite play versus Jordan's 15. My take? Jordan was Picasso, LeBron is Michelangelo. Different greatness.
International Athletes: Breaking Borders
Earlier ESPN's Top 100 Athletes lists felt like US all-star teams. The 2023 edition features 32 international athletes - a record. Here's the geographic spread:
- Europe: 14 (Ronaldo, Nadal, Federer)
- Caribbean: 7 (Bolt, Clemente)
- Africa: 5 (Hakeem Olajuwon, Eliud Kipchoge)
- South America: 4 (Pelé, Marta)
- Asia: 2 (Ichiro, Osaka)
Still, glaring omissions exist. Sachin Tendulkar (#101 in fan polls) didn't make it despite being cricket's god. No hockey legends outside North America either. ESPN's improving, but has miles to go before truly representing global sports.
A telling stat: Only 3 of 32 international athletes play primarily in non-US leagues. ESPN's lens remains States-centric.
Climbing the List: What Gets You Ranked Higher?
Want to predict future ESPN's Top 100 Athletes movers? Watch for:
- Legacy-defining moments - Brady winning at 43, Biles' "twisties" stand
- Breaking generational records - LeBron passing Kareem
- Cultural resetting - Osaka's mental health advocacy
- Globalizing their sport - Like Jokic making Serbia basketball-crazy
Patrick Mahomes (#31) will rocket up if he wins another ring. Luka Dončić (#87) is absurdly low for his talent - expect top-50 soon. And Lionel Messi? Currently #11, but World Cup glory could push him past Ronaldo.
Your Burning Questions Answered
How often does ESPN update their Top 100 Athletes list?
Historically every 5-7 years. The last three editions dropped in 2007, 2016, and 2023. Mark your calendars for 2028-2030!
Can fans vote for ESPN's Top 100 Athletes?
Not directly. But ESPN runs parallel fan polls whose results sometimes influence panelists. In 2016, fan backlash got Steph Curry moved up 11 spots post-release.
Who's the youngest athlete ever on the list?
Mike Tyson (#78) at age 20 in 1987. Current youngest is Caeleb Dressel (#96), swimming phenom added at 26.
Has anyone fallen completely off ESPN's Top 100 Athletes?
Ouch, yes. Barry Bonds dropped out after PED evidence mounted. Lance Armstrong got fully removed. Pete Rose (#56 in 2007) vanished due to gambling bans.
Where can I see the full list?
ESPN.com posts the complete ESPN's Top 100 Athletes ranking, usually with athlete profiles and videos. They typically keep it accessible without paywalls.
Why do baseball players rank higher than modern stars?
ESPN weights "cultural imprint" heavily. Babe Ruth (#4) transformed America's pastime during radio's golden age. Advanced stats can't capture that resonance.
The Politics of Ranking Legends
Let's be real - compiling ESPN's Top 100 Athletes involves more than stats. I've spoken to voters anonymously. A few confessions:
- Some penalize athletes for being "unlikeable" (Rodman, A-Rod)
- Olympic athletes get downgraded for shorter careers
- Recency bias is real - voters remember 2020s performances clearer than 1980s
One panelist told me: "We're not ranking machines. We're storytellers measuring mythology." That explains why Ali stays top-3 despite fewer fights than Mayweather. His social impact transcends boxing.
Biggest voter conflict? Performance enhancers. Clemens and Bonds got docked 15-20 spots for PED associations. But what about 1970s NFL players popping amphetamines? Consistency issues persist.
Future Forecast: Who's Next?
Based on trajectory, these athletes could debut in the next ESPN's Top 100 Athletes edition:
| Athlete | Sport | Current Age | Case For Inclusion | Potential Rank Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | Soccer | 23 | Record EPL goal pace | 70-90 |
| Caeleb Dressel | Swimming | 27 | 7 Olympic golds already | 80-100 |
| Yohann Diniz | Race Walking | 45 | 8 world records | 90-100 |
| Katie Ledecky | Swimming | 26 | Most dominant swimmer since Phelps | 60-80 |
| Novak Djokovic | Tennis | 36 | Grand Slam record holder | Top 25 |
Dark horse picks? Jokic if he three-peats as MVP. Or Sha'Carri Richardson if she dominates Paris 2024. Personally, I'm rooting for skateboarder Nyjah Huston - he's revolutionized street league scoring.
After covering sports for over a decade, here's my hot take: ESPN's list undervalues specialization. Dominating a niche sport like climbing (Adam Ondra) or surfing (Gabriel Medina) deserves more credit. Being top-0.0001% in any athletic pursuit is legendary.
At the end of the day, ESPN's Top 100 Athletes ranking isn't gospel. It's conversation fuel. The fact we're still debating Ali vs Jordan decades later? That's the magic of sports. Now go settle those bar arguments.
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