- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1995–2011
- Country
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
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
- 1978–1992
- Country
- 🇩🇿 Algeria
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1985–1993
- Country
- 🏴 England
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Ice Hockey
- Career
- 1921–1944
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1889–1904
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1975–1988
- Country
- 🇵🇱 Poland
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1994–2015
- Country
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 72.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2011–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 1988–2003
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 2008–2023
- Country
- 🇸🇮 Slovenia
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Ice Hockey
- Career
- 1991–2010
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 1990–2003
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Ice Hockey
- Career
- 1988–2007
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 1958–1969
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 96.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 1974–1984
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1961–1983
- Country
- 🇬🇧 England
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2016–active
- Country
- 🇬🇧 England
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1954–1969
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 1958–1973
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1980–1988
- Country
- 🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- 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
- Football
- Career
- 1983–1994
- Country
- 🇹🇷 Turkey
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 85.0
- Honours
- 70.0
- Longevity
- 75.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Ice Hockey
- Career
- 1947–1970
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1949–1960
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 2017–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 2001–2020
- Country
- 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1964–1984
- Country
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1990–2000
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 1922–1932
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1949–1959
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 1973–1985
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1948–1962
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 1927–1938
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1912–1934
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2003–2023
- Country
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- Peak
- 80.0
- Dominance
- 75.0
- Statistics
- 70.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 85.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 75.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2017–active
- Country
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- 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
- Ice Hockey
- Career
- 1979–2001
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 96.0
- 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
- Tennis
- Career
- 1991–2008
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Tennis
- Career
- 1980–1996
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1983–1998
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1919–1925
- Country
- 🇵🇭 Philippines
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 58.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2011–active
- Country
- 🇨🇴 Colombia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- American Football
- Career
- 2005–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1602 | Makhaya Ntini | Cricket | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 1995–2011 | 78.9 |
| 1604 | Rabah Madjer | Football | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 1978–1992 | 78.9 |
| 1605 | Derek Redmond | Athletics | 🏴 England | 1985–1993 | 78.9 |
| 1606 | Frank Boucher | Ice Hockey | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1921–1944 | 78.9 |
| 1607 | Jack Brown | Cricket | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1889–1904 | 78.9 |
| 1610 | Zbigniew Boniek | Football | 🇵🇱 Poland | 1975–1988 | 78.9 |
| 1611 | Álvaro Recoba | Football | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 1994–2015 | 78.9 |
| 1615 | Jimmy Butler | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2011–active | 78.8 |
| 1616 | Michael Chang | Tennis | 🇺🇸 United States | 1988–2003 | 78.8 |
| 1619 | Goran Dragić | Basketball | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 2008–2023 | 78.8 |
| 1620 | Scott Niedermayer | Ice Hockey | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1991–2010 | 78.8 |
| 1621 | Shannon Sharpe | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 1990–2003 | 78.8 |
| 1622 | Ed Belfour | Ice Hockey | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1988–2007 | 78.8 |
| 1623 | Willie Davis | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 1958–1969 | 78.8 |
| 1624 | Jack Lambert | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 1974–1984 | 78.8 |
| 1625 | Mike Brearley | Cricket | 🇬🇧 England | 1961–1983 | 78.8 |
| 1626 | Jofra Archer | Cricket | 🇬🇧 England | 2016–active | 78.8 |
| 1627 | Bob Barber | Cricket | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1954–1969 | 78.8 |
| 1628 | Don Maynard | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 1958–1973 | 78.8 |
| 1630 | Ajayi Agbebaku | Athletics | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 1980–1988 | 78.8 |
| 1631 | Aleksandar Kolarov | Football | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 2005–2022 | 78.8 |
| 1632 | Asamoah Gyan | Football | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 2003–2021 | 78.8 |
| 1633 | Tanju Çolak | Football | 🇹🇷 Turkey | 1983–1994 | 78.8 |
| 1636 | Christian Taylor | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2009–active | 78.7 |
| 1637 | Terry Sawchuk | Ice Hockey | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1947–1970 | 78.7 |
| 1638 | Dick McGuire | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1949–1960 | 78.7 |
| 1640 | T.J. Watt | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 2017–active | 78.7 |
| 1641 | Mashrafe Mortaza | Cricket | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 2001–2020 | 78.7 |
| 1642 | Wasim Bari | Cricket | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 1964–1984 | 78.7 |
| 1644 | Derrick Adkins | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1990–2000 | 78.7 |
| 1645 | René Lacoste | Tennis | 🇫🇷 France | 1922–1932 | 78.7 |
| 1646 | Ed Macauley | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1949–1959 | 78.7 |
| 1648 | John Hannah | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 1973–1985 | 78.7 |
| 1649 | Tony DeMarco | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 1948–1962 | 78.7 |
| 1650 | Wilmer Allison | Tennis | 🇺🇸 United States | 1927–1938 | 78.7 |
| 1651 | Ted Bowley | Cricket | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1912–1934 | 78.7 |
| 1653 | Diego Godín | Football | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 2003–2023 | 78.7 |
| 1654 | João Cancelo | Football | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 2013–active | 78.7 |
| 1655 | Simon Bucher | Swimming | 🇦🇹 Austria | 2017–active | 78.7 |
| 1656 | Alessandro Calvi | Swimming | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2001–2012 | 78.7 |
| 1657 | Derrick Atkins | Athletics | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 2003–2012 | 78.7 |
| 1659 | Ray Bourque | Ice Hockey | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1979–2001 | 78.6 |
| 1661 | Carmelo Anthony | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 2003–2022 | 78.6 |
| 1662 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | Boxing | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 2008–2024 | 78.6 |
| 1663 | Jonas Björkman | Tennis | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1991–2008 | 78.6 |
| 1664 | Anders Järryd | Tennis | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1980–1996 | 78.6 |
| 1666 | José Luíz Barbosa | Athletics | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1983–1998 | 78.6 |
| 1667 | Pancho Villa | Boxing | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 1919–1925 | 78.6 |
| 1668 | Éider Arévalo | Athletics | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 2011–active | 78.6 |
| 1669 | DeMarcus Ware | American Football | 🇺🇸 United States | 2005–2016 | 78.6 |
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 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 timeGreatest Basketball Players of all time