- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2004–active
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 99.0
- Dominance
- 98.0
- Statistics
- 99.0
- Honours
- 97.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
GOAT Rank · 4154
Greatest male of all time
This ranking is led by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Phelps. GOAT Rank currently ranks 4154 eligible athletes 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
- Football
- Career
- 2002–active
- Country
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 97.0
- Honours
- 93.0
- Longevity
- 99.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 100.0
- Dominance
- 99.0
- Statistics
- 98.0
- Honours
- 100.0
- Longevity
- 93.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1958–1977
- Country
- 🏴 England
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 95.0
- Statistics
- 91.0
- Honours
- 96.0
- Longevity
- 94.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1956–1977
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 97.0
- Dominance
- 96.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 95.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1960–1978
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 96.0
- Longevity
- 94.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2003–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 USA
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 98.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 100.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1984–2003
- Country
- 🇺🇸 USA
- Peak
- 100.0
- Dominance
- 99.0
- Statistics
- 97.0
- Honours
- 96.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1969–1989
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 95.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 95.0
- Longevity
- 96.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1953–1973
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 89.0
- Honours
- 95.0
- Longevity
- 91.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2004–2017
- Country
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica
- Peak
- 100.0
- Dominance
- 98.0
- Statistics
- 95.0
- Honours
- 98.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1979–1997
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 93.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1964–1984
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 93.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1945–1966
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 93.0
- Honours
- 93.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1964–1983
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 93.0
- Dominance
- 93.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1939–1961
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 95.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1976–1997
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 98.0
- Dominance
- 95.0
- Statistics
- 91.0
- Honours
- 93.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1993–2011
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 97.0
- Dominance
- 93.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1943–1966
- Country
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1963–1978
- Country
- 🇷🇸 Serbia
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 89.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 91.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1969–1990
- Country
- 🏴 Scotland
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 96.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1946–1962
- Country
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1959–1973
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 98.0
- Dominance
- 95.0
- Statistics
- 99.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1927–1949
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 100.0
- Dominance
- 100.0
- Statistics
- 100.0
- Honours
- 96.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1991–2015
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1950–1971
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1971–1994
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 2003–active
- Country
- 🇷🇸 Serbia
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 99.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 99.0
- Longevity
- 97.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1991–2011
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1989–2006
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 89.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1956–1969
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 96.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 97.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1940–1965
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 95.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1960–1981
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 98.0
- Dominance
- 96.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 95.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1998–2021
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1996–2017
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1972–1991
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 85.0
- Honours
- 95.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1979–1996
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 94.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 93.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1985–2009
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 93.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1956–1975
- Country
- 🏴 England
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2011–active
- Country
- 🇸🇳 Senegal
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 89.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2000–2017
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 85.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2020
- Country
- 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 85.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1991–2007
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 95.0
- Longevity
- 85.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1979–1999
- Country
- 🏴 Wales
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1979–1992
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 93.0
- Statistics
- 93.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1996–2017
- Country
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1963–1981
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 89.0
- Statistics
- 95.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1996–2014
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 2004–active | 97.0 |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 2002–active | 95.5 |
| 3 | Michael Phelps | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2000–2016 | 95.2 |
| 5 | Bobby Moore | Football | 🏴 England | 1958–1977 | 94.6 |
| 6 | Pelé | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1956–1977 | 94.2 |
| 7 | Giacinto Facchetti | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1960–1978 | 94.0 |
| 8 | LeBron James | Basketball | 🇺🇸 USA | 2003–active | 93.7 |
| 9 | Michael Jordan | Basketball | 🇺🇸 USA | 1984–2003 | 93.4 |
| 10 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1969–1989 | 93.3 |
| 11 | Luis Suárez Miramontes | Football | 🇪🇸 Spain | 1953–1973 | 93.3 |
| 12 | Usain Bolt | Athletics | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 2004–2017 | 93.2 |
| 13 | Carl Lewis | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1979–1997 | 93.1 |
| 14 | Johan Cruyff | Football | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1964–1984 | 92.9 |
| 15 | Alfredo Di Stéfano | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1945–1966 | 92.9 |
| 16 | Franz Beckenbauer | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1964–1983 | 92.6 |
| 18 | Ángel Labruna | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1939–1961 | 92.1 |
| 19 | Diego Maradona | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1976–1997 | 92.0 |
| 21 | Ronaldo Nazário | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1993–2011 | 92.0 |
| 23 | Luis Suárez | Football | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 2005–active | 92.0 |
| 24 | Ferenc Puskás | Football | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 1943–1966 | 91.8 |
| 25 | Dragan Džajić | Football | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 1963–1978 | 91.6 |
| 27 | Kenny Dalglish | Football | 🏴 Scotland | 1969–1990 | 91.4 |
| 30 | Juan Alberto Schiaffino | Football | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 1946–1962 | 91.2 |
| 31 | Wilt Chamberlain | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1959–1973 | 91.1 |
| 32 | Don Bradman | Cricket | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1927–1949 | 91.0 |
| 33 | Rivaldo | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1991–2015 | 91.0 |
| 34 | Lev Yashin | Football | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1950–1971 | 90.9 |
| 35 | Zico | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1971–1994 | 90.9 |
| 37 | Novak Djokovic | Tennis | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 2003–active | 90.8 |
| 38 | Edwin van der Sar | Football | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1991–2011 | 90.8 |
| 39 | Zinedine Zidane | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 1989–2006 | 90.6 |
| 40 | Bill Russell | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1956–1969 | 90.6 |
| 41 | Sugar Ray Robinson | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 1940–1965 | 90.5 |
| 43 | Muhammad Ali | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 1960–1981 | 90.3 |
| 44 | Pau Gasol | Basketball | 🇪🇸 Spain | 1998–2021 | 90.3 |
| 45 | Floyd Mayweather | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 1996–2017 | 90.2 |
| 46 | Ricardo Bochini | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1972–1991 | 90.2 |
| 47 | Magic Johnson | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1979–1996 | 90.1 |
| 48 | Romário | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1985–2009 | 90.1 |
| 49 | Antoine Griezmann | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 2009–active | 90.1 |
| 52 | Bobby Charlton | Football | 🏴 England | 1956–1975 | 89.9 |
| 54 | Sadio Mané | Football | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 2011–active | 89.8 |
| 55 | Xabi Alonso | Football | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2000–2017 | 89.8 |
| 56 | Yaya Touré | Football | 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast | 2002–2020 | 89.8 |
| 61 | Fabien Barthez | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 1991–2007 | 89.6 |
| 62 | Ian Rush | Football | 🏴 Wales | 1979–1999 | 89.5 |
| 67 | Larry Bird | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1979–1992 | 89.4 |
| 69 | Wladimir Klitschko | Boxing | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 1996–2017 | 89.4 |
| 70 | Gerd Müller | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1963–1981 | 89.3 |
| 71 | Ray Allen | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1996–2014 | 89.3 |
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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