GOAT Rank · 1370

Greatest Athletes from United States

This ranking is led by Michael Phelps, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Carl Lewis. GOAT Rank currently ranks 1370 eligible athletes from United States using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Michael Phelps ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 95.2.

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

#AthleteGOAT Score

3086

Chick Hafey

71.5

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1924–1937
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Chick Hafey

3089

Hobey Baker

71.5

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1910–1917
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Hobey Baker

3093

Auston Matthews

71.4

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 2016–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Auston Matthews

3094

Phil Dalhausser

71.4

Sport: Volleyball
Career: 2001–2022
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Phil Dalhausser

3096

Harold Baines

71.4

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1980–2001
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 72.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Harold Baines

3099

Elmer Flick

71.4

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1898–1910
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Elmer Flick

3100

Todd Helton

71.4

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1997–2013
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Todd Helton

3104

Bobby Jones

71.3

Sport: Golf
Career: 1916–1930
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Bobby Jones

3105

Arnold Palmer

71.3

Sport: Golf
Career: 1954–2006
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 85.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Arnold Palmer

3115

Doug Ford

71.2

Sport: Golf
Career: 1949–2001
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Doug Ford

3118

Michael Andrew

71.2

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2017–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 82.0
Dominance: 70.0
Statistics: 74.0
Honours: 72.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Michael Andrew

3120

Joe Cronin

71.2

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1926–1945
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Joe Cronin

3124

Kent Steffes

71.1

Sport: Volleyball
Career: 1988–1998
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Kent Steffes

3125

Joe Torre

71.1

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1960–1977
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Joe Torre

3129

Babe Didrikson Zaharias

70.9

Sport: Golf
Career: 1935–1955
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Babe Didrikson Zaharias

3136

Cliff Battles

70.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1932–1937
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 62.0

Athlete: Cliff Battles

3137

Walter Hagen

70.8

Sport: Golf
Career: 1912–1940
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 89.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Walter Hagen

3138

Tom Watson

70.8

Sport: Golf
Career: 1971–2019
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 85.0
Honours: 85.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Tom Watson

3139

Gene Sarazen

70.8

Sport: Golf
Career: 1920–1973
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Gene Sarazen

3142

Roger Staubach

70.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1969–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Roger Staubach

3144

Justin Jefferson

70.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 2020–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 58.0

Athlete: Justin Jefferson

3150

Nellie Fox

70.8

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1947–1965
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Nellie Fox

3157

Earle Combs

70.7

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1924–1935
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Earle Combs

3159

Skinny Johnson

70.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1931–1937
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 72.0
Statistics: 70.0
Honours: 72.0
Longevity: 62.0

Athlete: Skinny Johnson

3161

Pat Bradley

70.6

Sport: Golf
Career: 1974–1995
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Pat Bradley

3170

Sandra Haynie

70.5

Sport: Golf
Career: 1961–1989
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Sandra Haynie

3178

Ernie Lombardi

70.5

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1931–1947
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Ernie Lombardi

3179

Lou Boudreau

70.5

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1938–1952
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Lou Boudreau

3183

Phil Mickelson

70.4

Sport: Golf
Career: 1992–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Phil Mickelson

3188

Chris Cavanaugh

70.4

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1980–1986
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 68.0
Statistics: 72.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 64.0

Athlete: Chris Cavanaugh

3189

Clayton Stanley

70.4

Sport: Volleyball
Career: 2000–2014
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Clayton Stanley

3192

Catfish Hunter

70.3

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1965–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Catfish Hunter

3201

Jim Bunning

70.2

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1955–1971
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Jim Bunning

3205

Laila Ali

70.1

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1999–2007
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 82.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 70.0
Longevity: 58.0

Athlete: Laila Ali

3208

Jim Covert

70.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1983–1990
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 64.0

Athlete: Jim Covert

3209

DK Metcalf

70.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 2019–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 74.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: DK Metcalf

3210

Matt Anderson

70.1

Sport: Volleyball
Career: 2008–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Matt Anderson

3211

Lloy Ball

70.1

Sport: Volleyball
Career: 1994–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Lloy Ball

3213

Danielle Scott-Arruda

70.1

Sport: Volleyball
Career: 1993–2012
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Danielle Scott-Arruda

3219

Brian Urlacher

70.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 2000–2012
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Brian Urlacher

3222

Julius Boros

70.0

Sport: Golf
Career: 1949–1975
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Julius Boros

3224

Byron Nelson

69.9

Sport: Golf
Career: 1932–1946
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 95.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Byron Nelson

3225

Carol Mann

69.9

Sport: Golf
Career: 1961–1981
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Carol Mann

3227

Johnny Goodman

69.9

Sport: Golf
Career: 1927–1950
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Johnny Goodman

3229

Monte Irvin

69.9

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1938–1956
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Monte Irvin

3230

Ray Dandridge

69.9

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1933–1949
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Ray Dandridge

3231

Cary Middlecoff

69.9

Sport: Golf
Career: 1947–1961
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Cary Middlecoff

3238

Henry Slocum

69.8

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1886–1892
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 78.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 58.0

Athlete: Henry Slocum

3239

Cindy Curley

69.8

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1986–1992
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 60.0

Athlete: Cindy Curley

3245

Reid Priddy

69.8

Sport: Volleyball
Career: 2001–2019
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Reid Priddy

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
3086	Chick Hafey	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1924–1937	71.5
3089	Hobey Baker	Ice Hockey	🇺🇸 United States	1910–1917	71.5
3093	Auston Matthews	Ice Hockey	🇺🇸 United States	2016–active	71.4
3094	Phil Dalhausser	Volleyball	🇺🇸 United States	2001–2022	71.4
3096	Harold Baines	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1980–2001	71.4
3099	Elmer Flick	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1898–1910	71.4
3100	Todd Helton	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2013	71.4
3104	Bobby Jones	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1916–1930	71.3
3105	Arnold Palmer	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1954–2006	71.3
3115	Doug Ford	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1949–2001	71.2
3118	Michael Andrew	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	2017–active	71.2
3120	Joe Cronin	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1926–1945	71.2
3124	Kent Steffes	Volleyball	🇺🇸 United States	1988–1998	71.1
3125	Joe Torre	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1960–1977	71.1
3129	Babe Didrikson Zaharias	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1935–1955	70.9
3136	Cliff Battles	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1932–1937	70.9
3137	Walter Hagen	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1912–1940	70.8
3138	Tom Watson	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1971–2019	70.8
3139	Gene Sarazen	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1920–1973	70.8
3142	Roger Staubach	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1979	70.8
3144	Justin Jefferson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2020–active	70.8
3150	Nellie Fox	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1947–1965	70.8
3157	Earle Combs	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1924–1935	70.7
3159	Skinny Johnson	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1931–1937	70.7
3161	Pat Bradley	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1995	70.6
3170	Sandra Haynie	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1961–1989	70.5
3178	Ernie Lombardi	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1931–1947	70.5
3179	Lou Boudreau	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1938–1952	70.5
3183	Phil Mickelson	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1992–active	70.4
3188	Chris Cavanaugh	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1980–1986	70.4
3189	Clayton Stanley	Volleyball	🇺🇸 United States	2000–2014	70.4
3192	Catfish Hunter	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1979	70.3
3201	Jim Bunning	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1955–1971	70.2
3205	Laila Ali	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1999–2007	70.1
3208	Jim Covert	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1983–1990	70.1
3209	DK Metcalf	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2019–active	70.1
3210	Matt Anderson	Volleyball	🇺🇸 United States	2008–active	70.1
3211	Lloy Ball	Volleyball	🇺🇸 United States	1994–2011	70.1
3213	Danielle Scott-Arruda	Volleyball	🇺🇸 United States	1993–2012	70.1
3219	Brian Urlacher	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2000–2012	70.0
3222	Julius Boros	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1975	70.0
3224	Byron Nelson	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1932–1946	69.9
3225	Carol Mann	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1961–1981	69.9
3227	Johnny Goodman	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1927–1950	69.9
3229	Monte Irvin	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1938–1956	69.9
3230	Ray Dandridge	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1933–1949	69.9
3231	Cary Middlecoff	Golf	🇺🇸 United States	1947–1961	69.9
3238	Henry Slocum	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1886–1892	69.8
3239	Cindy Curley	Ice Hockey	🇺🇸 United States	1986–1992	69.8
3245	Reid Priddy	Volleyball	🇺🇸 United States	2001–2019	69.8

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Michael Phelps vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Read the full methodology

Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.

Read the full methodology

Frequently asked questions

How is this ranking calculated?

Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Who is included?

According to GOAT Rank's current data model, only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible. Rank and score are read live.

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