- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–2022
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 85.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
GOAT Rank · 730
Greatest Athletes who debuted in the 2000s
This ranking is led by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Phelps. GOAT Rank currently ranks 730 eligible athletes who debuted in the 2000s using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Quick answer
According to GOAT Rank's current model, Lionel Messi ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 97.0.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →#AthleteGOAT Score
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2008–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2004–2018
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2007–active
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 85.0
- Longevity
- 85.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2019
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 2001–2019
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 2007–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2000–2019
- Country
- 🇮🇳 India
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2000–2024
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2000–2022
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2006–active
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2003–2019
- Country
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2009–2019
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2007–active
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2006–2021
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2019
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2003–2021
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2004–2021
- Country
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2006–2018
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇨🇱 Chile
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2000–2013
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2004–2024
- Country
- 🇮🇳 India
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2014
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2006–2024
- Country
- 🏴 England
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2007–active
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2020
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2006–2019
- Country
- 🇰🇪 Kenya
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2016
- Country
- 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇬🇦 Gabon
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 85.0
- Honours
- 75.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2003–2021
- Country
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2003–2013
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2001–2020
- Country
- 🇬🇧 England
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2020
- Country
- 🇹🇬 Togo
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 75.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇮🇳 India
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 2002–2013
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2004–2021
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2024
- Country
- 🇨🇱 Chile
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2012
- Country
- 🇹🇷 Turkey
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–2023
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2023
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 899 | Gonzalo Higuaín | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 2005–2022 | 82.5 |
| 903 | Ashton Eaton | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2008–2016 | 82.4 |
| 905 | Lindsay Whalen | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2004–2018 | 82.4 |
| 911 | Murielle Ahouré-Demps | Athletics | 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast | 2008–active | 82.4 |
| 917 | Georginio Wijnaldum | Football | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2007–active | 82.4 |
| 921 | Tirunesh Dibaba | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 2001–2019 | 82.3 |
| 922 | Pernille Harder | Football | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 2009–active | 82.3 |
| 927 | Nicola Adams | Boxing | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2001–2019 | 82.3 |
| 931 | Jermell Charlo | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 2007–active | 82.3 |
| 932 | Yuvraj Singh | Cricket | 🇮🇳 India | 2000–2019 | 82.3 |
| 934 | Chamari Athapaththu | Cricket | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 2009–active | 82.3 |
| 936 | Hedvig Lindahl | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 2000–2024 | 82.3 |
| 946 | Justin Gatlin | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2000–2022 | 82.2 |
| 947 | Cristiana Girelli | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2006–active | 82.2 |
| 952 | Vincent Kompany | Football | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 2003–2019 | 82.2 |
| 959 | Tabea Kemme | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2009–2019 | 82.2 |
| 961 | James Harden | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2009–active | 82.1 |
| 963 | Sam Kerr | Football | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2008–active | 82.1 |
| 972 | Amandine Henry | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 2007–active | 82.1 |
| 986 | Russell Westbrook | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2008–active | 82.0 |
| 991 | Stafanie Taylor | Cricket | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 2008–active | 82.0 |
| 1004 | Valentina Cernoia | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2008–active | 82.0 |
| 1007 | Fabiana da Silva | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2006–2021 | 82.0 |
| 1009 | Bastian Schweinsteiger | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2002–2019 | 81.9 |
| 1029 | Sergio Agüero | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 2003–2021 | 81.8 |
| 1034 | Dale Steyn | Cricket | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 2004–2021 | 81.8 |
| 1038 | Cappie Pondexter | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2006–2018 | 81.8 |
| 1040 | Alexis Sánchez | Football | 🇨🇱 Chile | 2005–active | 81.8 |
| 1044 | Dwight Phillips | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2000–2013 | 81.8 |
| 1050 | Shikhar Dhawan | Cricket | 🇮🇳 India | 2004–2024 | 81.8 |
| 1064 | Natalya Antyukh | Athletics | 🇷🇺 Russia | 2001–2014 | 81.7 |
| 1077 | Steph Houghton | Football | 🏴 England | 2006–2024 | 81.6 |
| 1083 | Elisa Bartoli | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2007–active | 81.6 |
| 1085 | Robinho | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2002–2020 | 81.6 |
| 1089 | David Rudisha | Athletics | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 2006–2019 | 81.5 |
| 1098 | Maren Mjelde | Football | 🇳🇴 Norway | 2005–active | 81.5 |
| 1101 | George Bovell | Swimming | 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago | 2000–2016 | 81.5 |
| 1104 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Football | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 2009–active | 81.5 |
| 1105 | Antonio Valencia | Football | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 2003–2021 | 81.5 |
| 1112 | Laure Manaudou | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2003–2013 | 81.4 |
| 1117 | Ian Bell | Cricket | 🇬🇧 England | 2001–2020 | 81.4 |
| 1118 | Emmanuel Adebayor | Football | 🇹🇬 Togo | 2002–2020 | 81.4 |
| 1129 | Harmanpreet Kaur | Cricket | 🇮🇳 India | 2009–active | 81.3 |
| 1134 | Holly Holm | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 2002–2013 | 81.3 |
| 1138 | Ilaria Mauro | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2004–2021 | 81.3 |
| 1157 | Claudio Bravo | Football | 🇨🇱 Chile | 2002–2024 | 81.2 |
| 1158 | Femke Heemskerk | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2005–active | 81.2 |
| 1161 | Elvan Abeylegesse | Athletics | 🇹🇷 Turkey | 2001–2012 | 81.2 |
| 1163 | Sebastian Larsson | Football | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 2005–2023 | 81.2 |
| 1166 | Mo Farah | Athletics | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2001–2023 | 81.1 |
Compare the leaders
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano RonaldoRead 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 methodologyFrequently 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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