- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2012
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
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
- Tennis
- Career
- 2005–2024
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2003–2014
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2020
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 70.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2000–2014
- Country
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2007–active
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 83.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–2016
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2012
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Ice Hockey
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 91.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 89.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2007–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 2003–2023
- Country
- 🇮🇳 India
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2006–2023
- Country
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2003–2012
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–2020
- Country
- 🇨🇳 China
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2006–2016
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2003–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2006–2016
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2007–2014
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2005–2015
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 2002–2023
- Country
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2008–2023
- Country
- 🇸🇮 Slovenia
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–2022
- Country
- 🇷🇸 Serbia
- Peak
- 78.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 75.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 85.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2003–2021
- Country
- 🇬🇭 Ghana
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 75.0
- Longevity
- 75.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2002–2009
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2001–2020
- Country
- 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2003–2023
- Country
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- Peak
- 80.0
- Dominance
- 75.0
- Statistics
- 70.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 85.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2001–2012
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2003–2012
- Country
- 🇧🇸 Bahamas
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2002–2010
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2003–2022
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 2008–2024
- Country
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 2005–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2016
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2006–2014
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 2000–active
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2006–2017
- Country
- 🇧🇸 Bahamas
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 2001–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2009–2022
- Country
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 2001–2020
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇭🇷 Croatia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2009–2022
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2006–active
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 70.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2006–2018
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1487 | Mikele Barber | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2001–2012 | 79.5 |
| 1489 | Andy Murray | Tennis | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2005–2024 | 79.4 |
| 1494 | Dylan Armstrong | Athletics | 🇨🇦 Canada | 2003–2014 | 79.4 |
| 1496 | Gabi Fernández | Football | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2002–2020 | 79.4 |
| 1497 | Park Ji-sung | Football | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 2000–2014 | 79.4 |
| 1506 | Adriana Silva | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2007–active | 79.4 |
| 1511 | Louisa Nécib | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 2005–2016 | 79.3 |
| 1512 | Brendan Hansen | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2000–2012 | 79.3 |
| 1521 | Sidney Crosby | Ice Hockey | 🇨🇦 Canada | 2005–active | 79.2 |
| 1527 | Kevin Love | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2008–active | 79.2 |
| 1529 | Elizabeth Beisel | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2007–2016 | 79.2 |
| 1553 | Sania Mirza | Tennis | 🇮🇳 India | 2003–2023 | 79.1 |
| 1554 | Bismah Maroof | Cricket | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 2006–2023 | 79.1 |
| 1555 | Libby Trickett | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2003–2012 | 79.1 |
| 1563 | Devon Conway | Cricket | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 2008–active | 79.1 |
| 1571 | Sun Yang | Swimming | 🇨🇳 China | 2008–2020 | 79.0 |
| 1572 | César Cielo | Swimming | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2006–2016 | 79.0 |
| 1574 | Chris Bosh | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2003–2016 | 79.0 |
| 1577 | Bronte Barratt | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2006–2016 | 79.0 |
| 1578 | Ricky Berens | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2007–2014 | 79.0 |
| 1579 | Adrien Broner | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 2008–active | 79.0 |
| 1580 | Mariya Abakumova | Athletics | 🇷🇺 Russia | 2005–2015 | 79.0 |
| 1614 | Verónica Boquete | Football | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2005–active | 78.8 |
| 1618 | Barbora Strýcová | Tennis | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 2002–2023 | 78.8 |
| 1619 | Goran Dragić | Basketball | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 2008–2023 | 78.8 |
| 1631 | Aleksandar Kolarov | Football | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 2005–2022 | 78.8 |
| 1632 | Asamoah Gyan | Football | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 2003–2021 | 78.8 |
| 1634 | Kirsty Balfour | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2002–2009 | 78.8 |
| 1636 | Christian Taylor | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2009–active | 78.7 |
| 1641 | Mashrafe Mortaza | Cricket | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 2001–2020 | 78.7 |
| 1653 | Diego Godín | Football | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 2003–2023 | 78.7 |
| 1656 | Alessandro Calvi | Swimming | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2001–2012 | 78.7 |
| 1657 | Derrick Atkins | Athletics | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 2003–2012 | 78.7 |
| 1658 | Me'Lisa Barber | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2002–2010 | 78.7 |
| 1661 | Carmelo Anthony | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2003–2022 | 78.6 |
| 1662 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | Boxing | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 2008–2024 | 78.6 |
| 1669 | DeMarcus Ware | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 2005–2016 | 78.6 |
| 1683 | Dana Vollmer | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2000–2016 | 78.5 |
| 1691 | Frédérick Bousquet | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2000–2016 | 78.5 |
| 1695 | Sergey Bakulin | Athletics | 🇷🇺 Russia | 2006–2014 | 78.5 |
| 1707 | Vera Zvonareva | Tennis | 🇷🇺 Russia | 2000–active | 78.4 |
| 1735 | Aaron Rodgers | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 2005–active | 78.2 |
| 1752 | Trevor Barry | Athletics | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 2006–2017 | 78.2 |
| 1761 | Steve Smith Sr | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 2001–2016 | 78.1 |
| 1762 | Boglárka Kapás | Swimming | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 2009–2022 | 78.1 |
| 1778 | Drew Brees | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 2001–2020 | 78.0 |
| 1782 | Marin Čilić | Tennis | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 2005–active | 78.0 |
| 1785 | Holly Barratt | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2009–2022 | 78.0 |
| 1799 | Marco Reus | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2006–active | 77.9 |
| 1802 | Jazmin Carlin | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2006–2018 | 77.9 |
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.
Related rankings
Greatest athletes of all timeGreatest female of all timeGreatest male of all timeGreatest active AthletesGreatest retired AthletesGreatest Boxers of all timeGreatest Swimmers of all timeGreatest Football Players of all timeGreatest Tennis Players of all timeGreatest Golfers of all timeGreatest Formula 1 Drivers of all timeGreatest Esports Players of all time