- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1978–1996
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
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
- Boxing
- Career
- 1908–1926
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1927–1942
- Country
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1958–1975
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2019
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 75.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1984–2011
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1977–1996
- Country
- 🇧🇧 Barbados
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2004–active
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1981–2005
- Country
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1990–2000
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1958–1988
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 94.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2001–2019
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Boxing
- Career
- 1929–1948
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1989–2005
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1981–2002
- Country
- 🇨🇴 Colombia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 85.0
- Statistics
- 75.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2010–active
- Country
- 🇪🇬 Egypt
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2002–2021
- Country
- 🏴 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1944–1958
- Country
- 🇨🇿 Czechia
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1981–1998
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1970–1986
- Country
- 🏴 Scotland
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1970–1983
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1946–1992
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 94.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1986–2003
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1994–2015
- Country
- 🇬🇾 Guyana
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 96.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2019–active
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1993–2013
- Country
- 🏴 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1984–2000
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1987–2004
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 87.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1988–2003
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1993–2015
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Cricket
- Career
- 1989–2011
- Country
- 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1976–1990
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1969–1983
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Basketball
- Career
- 1972–1986
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1985–1998
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1978–1994
- Country
- 🏴 England
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1978–1997
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1991–2001
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2004–2016
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2002–2012
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2001–2015
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1992–2006
- Country
- 🇲🇦 Morocco
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 2006–active
- Country
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1965–1979
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2017–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1990–2000
- Country
- 🇩🇿 Algeria
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1985–2002
- Country
- 🇭🇷 Croatia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Football
- Career
- 1987–2006
- Country
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 575 | Willie Banks | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 1978–1996 | 84.2 |
| 576 | Georges Carpentier | Boxing | 🇫🇷 France | 1908–1926 | 84.2 |
| 577 | Baby Arizmendi | Boxing | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 1927–1942 | 84.2 |
| 581 | Mario Corso | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1958–1975 | 84.2 |
| 582 | Robin van Persie | Football | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2002–2019 | 84.2 |
| 585 | Evander Holyfield | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 1984–2011 | 84.1 |
| 586 | Oleksandr Usyk | Boxing | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 2013–active | 84.1 |
| 587 | Malcolm Marshall | Cricket | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 1977–1996 | 84.1 |
| 588 | Thiago Silva | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2004–active | 84.1 |
| 590 | Arvydas Sabonis | Basketball | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 1981–2005 | 84.1 |
| 592 | Kieren Perkins | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1990–2000 | 84.1 |
| 593 | K.C. Jones | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1958–1988 | 84.1 |
| 595 | Ryan Murphy | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2013–active | 84.1 |
| 597 | Daniele De Rossi | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2001–2019 | 84.1 |
| 598 | Cocoa Kid | Boxing | 🇺🇸 United States | 1929–1948 | 84.1 |
| 602 | Demetrio Albertini | Football | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1989–2005 | 84.1 |
| 603 | Carlos Valderrama | Football | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 1981–2002 | 84.1 |
| 604 | Mohamed Salah | Football | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 2010–active | 84.0 |
| 605 | Wayne Rooney | Football | 🏴 United Kingdom | 2002–2021 | 84.0 |
| 606 | Emil Zátopek | Athletics | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 1944–1958 | 84.0 |
| 607 | Jürgen Klinsmann | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1981–1998 | 84.0 |
| 610 | John Robertson | Football | 🏴 Scotland | 1970–1986 | 84.0 |
| 611 | Paul Breitner | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1970–1983 | 84.0 |
| 614 | Marques Haynes | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1946–1992 | 84.0 |
| 615 | Colin Jackson | Athletics | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1986–2003 | 84.0 |
| 617 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | Cricket | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 1994–2015 | 84.0 |
| 619 | Enzo Fernández | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 2019–active | 84.0 |
| 622 | Paul Scholes | Football | 🏴 United Kingdom | 1993–2013 | 83.9 |
| 623 | Charles Barkley | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1984–2000 | 83.9 |
| 624 | Scottie Pippen | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1987–2004 | 83.9 |
| 625 | Jonathan Edwards | Athletics | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1988–2003 | 83.9 |
| 626 | David Trezeguet | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 1993–2015 | 83.9 |
| 627 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Cricket | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 1989–2011 | 83.9 |
| 628 | Dennis Johnson | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1976–1990 | 83.9 |
| 629 | Spencer Haywood | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1969–1983 | 83.9 |
| 630 | Bob McAdoo | Basketball | 🇺🇸 United States | 1972–1986 | 83.9 |
| 631 | Matthias Sammer | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1985–1998 | 83.9 |
| 632 | Gary Lineker | Football | 🏴 England | 1978–1994 | 83.9 |
| 633 | Careca | Football | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1978–1997 | 83.9 |
| 634 | Donovan Bailey | Athletics | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1991–2001 | 83.9 |
| 636 | Paul Biedermann | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2004–2016 | 83.9 |
| 637 | Alain Bernard | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2002–2012 | 83.9 |
| 638 | Eric Abidal | Football | 🇫🇷 France | 2001–2015 | 83.9 |
| 639 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Athletics | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 1992–2006 | 83.8 |
| 640 | Edinson Cavani | Football | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 2006–active | 83.8 |
| 641 | Berti Vogts | Football | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1965–1979 | 83.8 |
| 643 | Rai Benjamin | Athletics | 🇺🇸 United States | 2017–active | 83.8 |
| 646 | Nourredine Morceli | Athletics | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 1990–2000 | 83.8 |
| 647 | Zvonimir Boban | Football | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 1985–2002 | 83.8 |
| 648 | Diego Simeone | Football | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 1987–2006 | 83.8 |
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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