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

1731

Holcombe Ward

78.3

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1899–1906
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Holcombe Ward

1732

Mike Denness

78.3

Sport: Cricket
Career: 1959–1980
Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Mike Denness

1733

Sanjay Ayre

78.3

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1999–2010
Country: 🇯🇲 Jamaica

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Sanjay Ayre

1734

Stan Musial

78.2

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1941–1963
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 89.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 89.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Stan Musial

1735

Aaron Rodgers

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 2005–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Aaron Rodgers

1736

Vyacheslav Fetisov

78.2

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1974–1998
Country: 🇷🇺 Russia

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Vyacheslav Fetisov

1737

Aaron Pryor

78.2

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1976–1990
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Aaron Pryor

1738

Babar Azam

78.2

Sport: Cricket
Career: 2015–active
Country: 🇵🇰 Pakistan

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

Athlete: Babar Azam

1739

Dan Brouthers

78.2

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1879–1904
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Dan Brouthers

1740

Anatoliy Bondarchuk

78.2

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1965–1976
Country: 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Anatoliy Bondarchuk

1741

Brian Dawkins

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1996–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Brian Dawkins

1742

Chuck Bednarik

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1949–1962
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Chuck Bednarik

1743

Jim Parker

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Jim Parker

1744

Richard Dent

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1983–1997
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Richard Dent

1745

Mel Renfro

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1964–1977
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Mel Renfro

1746

Bernard Bosanquet

78.2

Sport: Cricket
Career: 1898–1919
Country: 🇬🇧 England

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Bernard Bosanquet

1747

Harry Brook

78.2

Sport: Cricket
Career: 2016–active
Country: 🇬🇧 England

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Harry Brook

1748

Neil Adcock

78.2

Sport: Cricket
Career: 1952–1963
Country: 🇿🇦 South Africa

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

Athlete: Neil Adcock

1749

Václav Nedomanský

78.2

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1962–1983
Country: 🇨🇿 Czechia

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

Athlete: Václav Nedomanský

1750

Herbert Lawford

78.2

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1878–1893
Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Herbert Lawford

1752

Trevor Barry

78.2

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2006–2017
Country: 🇧🇸 Bahamas

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

Athlete: Trevor Barry

1753

Mark Messier

78.1

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1978–2004
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Mark Messier

1754

Joe Montana

78.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1979–1994
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 93.0
Dominance: 89.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 91.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Joe Montana

1757

James J. Braddock

78.1

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1926–1938
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: James J. Braddock

1759

Charley Hyatt

78.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1928–1937
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Charley Hyatt

1760

Manny Ramírez

78.1

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1993–2011
Country: 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Manny Ramírez

1761

Steve Smith Sr

78.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 2001–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Steve Smith Sr

1763

Lou Hudson

78.1

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1966–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 74.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Lou Hudson

1764

Larry Allen

78.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1994–2007
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Larry Allen

1765

Tony Dorsett

78.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1977–1988
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Tony Dorsett

1766

Bernie Parent

78.1

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1965–1979
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 98.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Bernie Parent

1767

Craig Beardsley

78.1

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1979–1984
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 64.0

Athlete: Craig Beardsley

1768

Chris Doleman

78.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1985–1999
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Chris Doleman

1769

Kevin Greene

78.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1985–1999
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Kevin Greene

1770

Keith Boyce

78.1

Sport: Cricket
Career: 1965–1977
Country: 🇧🇧 West Indies

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Keith Boyce

1771

Martin Donnelly

78.1

Sport: Cricket
Career: 1936–1961
Country: 🇳🇿 New Zealand

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

Athlete: Martin Donnelly

1772

Hap Holmes

78.1

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1912–1928
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Hap Holmes

1773

Oliver Campbell

78.1

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1888–1893
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 66.0

Athlete: Oliver Campbell

1774

Malcolm Whitman

78.1

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1896–1902
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Malcolm Whitman

1775

Dennis Brookes

78.1

Sport: Cricket
Career: 1934–1959
Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 72.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Dennis Brookes

1776

Bukayo Saka

78.1

Sport: Football
Career: 2019–active
Country: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 70.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Bukayo Saka

1777

Glenn Hoddle

78.1

Sport: Football
Career: 1976–1995
Country: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 78.0
Honours: 72.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Glenn Hoddle

1778

Drew Brees

78.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 2001–2020
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Drew Brees

1780

Steve Cram

78.0

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1978–1994
Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Steve Cram

1781

Marco Arop

78.0

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2018–active
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 64.0

Athlete: Marco Arop

1782

Marin Čilić

78.0

Sport: Tennis
Career: 2005–active
Country: 🇭🇷 Croatia

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Marin Čilić

1783

Herschelle Gibbs

78.0

Sport: Cricket
Career: 1996–2010
Country: 🇿🇦 South Africa

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Herschelle Gibbs

1784

Kelvin Kiptum

78.0

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2018–2024
Country: 🇰🇪 Kenya

Peak: 98.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 60.0

Athlete: Kelvin Kiptum

1786

Art Monk

78.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1980–1995
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Art Monk

1787

Cal Hubbard

78.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1927–1936
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Cal Hubbard

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
1731	Holcombe Ward	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1899–1906	78.3
1732	Mike Denness	Cricket	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	1959–1980	78.3
1733	Sanjay Ayre	Athletics	🇯🇲 Jamaica	1999–2010	78.3
1734	Stan Musial	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1941–1963	78.2
1735	Aaron Rodgers	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2005–active	78.2
1736	Vyacheslav Fetisov	Ice Hockey	🇷🇺 Russia	1974–1998	78.2
1737	Aaron Pryor	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1990	78.2
1738	Babar Azam	Cricket	🇵🇰 Pakistan	2015–active	78.2
1739	Dan Brouthers	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1879–1904	78.2
1740	Anatoliy Bondarchuk	Athletics	🇺🇦 Ukraine	1965–1976	78.2
1741	Brian Dawkins	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2011	78.2
1742	Chuck Bednarik	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1962	78.2
1743	Jim Parker	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1967	78.2
1744	Richard Dent	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1983–1997	78.2
1745	Mel Renfro	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1977	78.2
1746	Bernard Bosanquet	Cricket	🇬🇧 England	1898–1919	78.2
1747	Harry Brook	Cricket	🇬🇧 England	2016–active	78.2
1748	Neil Adcock	Cricket	🇿🇦 South Africa	1952–1963	78.2
1749	Václav Nedomanský	Ice Hockey	🇨🇿 Czechia	1962–1983	78.2
1750	Herbert Lawford	Tennis	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	1878–1893	78.2
1752	Trevor Barry	Athletics	🇧🇸 Bahamas	2006–2017	78.2
1753	Mark Messier	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1978–2004	78.1
1754	Joe Montana	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1979–1994	78.1
1757	James J. Braddock	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1926–1938	78.1
1759	Charley Hyatt	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1928–1937	78.1
1760	Manny Ramírez	Baseball	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	1993–2011	78.1
1761	Steve Smith Sr	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2001–2016	78.1
1763	Lou Hudson	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1966–1979	78.1
1764	Larry Allen	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1994–2007	78.1
1765	Tony Dorsett	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1977–1988	78.1
1766	Bernie Parent	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1965–1979	78.1
1767	Craig Beardsley	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1979–1984	78.1
1768	Chris Doleman	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1985–1999	78.1
1769	Kevin Greene	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1985–1999	78.1
1770	Keith Boyce	Cricket	🇧🇧 West Indies	1965–1977	78.1
1771	Martin Donnelly	Cricket	🇳🇿 New Zealand	1936–1961	78.1
1772	Hap Holmes	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1912–1928	78.1
1773	Oliver Campbell	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1888–1893	78.1
1774	Malcolm Whitman	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1896–1902	78.1
1775	Dennis Brookes	Cricket	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	1934–1959	78.1
1776	Bukayo Saka	Football	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England	2019–active	78.1
1777	Glenn Hoddle	Football	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England	1976–1995	78.1
1778	Drew Brees	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2001–2020	78.0
1780	Steve Cram	Athletics	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	1978–1994	78.0
1781	Marco Arop	Athletics	🇨🇦 Canada	2018–active	78.0
1782	Marin Čilić	Tennis	🇭🇷 Croatia	2005–active	78.0
1783	Herschelle Gibbs	Cricket	🇿🇦 South Africa	1996–2010	78.0
1784	Kelvin Kiptum	Athletics	🇰🇪 Kenya	2018–2024	78.0
1786	Art Monk	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1980–1995	78.0
1787	Cal Hubbard	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1927–1936	78.0

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Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo

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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