GOAT Rank · 5087

Greatest athletes of all time

This ranking is led by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Phelps. GOAT Rank currently ranks 5087 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

2101

Johnny Unitas

76.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1956–1973
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 87.0
Honours: 87.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Johnny Unitas

2102

Albert Pujols

76.7

Sport: Baseball
Career: 2001–2022
Country: 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

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

Athlete: Albert Pujols

2103

Pat Rafter

76.7

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1991–2001
Country: 🇦🇺 Australia

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Pat Rafter

2104

James DeGale

76.7

Sport: Boxing
Career: 2009–2019
Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: James DeGale

2105

Sally Barsosio

76.7

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1993–2002
Country: 🇰🇪 Kenya

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Sally Barsosio

2106

Ferguson Jenkins

76.7

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1965–1983
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

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

Athlete: Ferguson Jenkins

2107

Katharine Berkoff

76.7

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2019–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 66.0

Athlete: Katharine Berkoff

2108

Mark Alleyne

76.7

Sport: Cricket
Career: 1986–2005
Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 72.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Mark Alleyne

2109

Fabricio Oberto

76.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1993–2011
Country: 🇦🇷 Argentina

Peak: 82.0
Dominance: 72.0
Statistics: 74.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Fabricio Oberto

2110

Lew Hoad

76.7

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1951–1968
Country: 🇦🇺 Australia

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Lew Hoad

2111

Raymond Berry

76.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1955–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Raymond Berry

2112

Busher Jackson

76.7

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1929–1944
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

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

Athlete: Busher Jackson

2113

William Clothier

76.7

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1900–1914
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: William Clothier

2114

John Doeg

76.7

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1926–1935
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: John Doeg

2115

Jack Cartwright

76.7

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2016–active
Country: 🇦🇺 Australia

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Jack Cartwright

2116

Marvin Anderson

76.7

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2005–2014
Country: 🇯🇲 Jamaica

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Marvin Anderson

2117

Jack Aikins

76.7

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2019–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Jack Aikins

2118

Rickey Henderson

76.6

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1979–2003
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 93.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Rickey Henderson

2119

Joe Sakic

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1988–2009
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Joe Sakic

2120

Mats Wilander

76.6

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1980–1996
Country: 🇸🇪 Sweden

Peak: 89.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Mats Wilander

2121

Maureen Connolly

76.6

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1949–1954
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 60.0

Athlete: Maureen Connolly

2122

Christy Mathewson

76.6

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1900–1916
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Christy Mathewson

2123

Liz Cambage

76.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2011–2022
Country: 🇦🇺 Australia

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 72.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Liz Cambage

2124

Eddie Shore

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1924–1940
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Eddie Shore

2125

Warren Spahn

76.6

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1942–1965
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Warren Spahn

2126

Amar'e Stoudemire

76.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2002–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 74.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Amar'e Stoudemire

2127

Juan Martín del Potro

76.6

Sport: Tennis
Career: 2005–2022
Country: 🇦🇷 Argentina

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Juan Martín del Potro

2128

Budge Patty

76.6

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1946–1961
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Budge Patty

2129

Pud Galvin

76.6

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1875–1892
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Pud Galvin

2130

John Stallworth

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1974–1987
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: John Stallworth

2131

Patrick Peterson

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 2011–2023
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Patrick Peterson

2132

Bruno Fratus

76.6

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2009–2023
Country: 🇧🇷 Brazil

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 74.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Bruno Fratus

2133

Ryosuke Irie

76.6

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2008–2021
Country: 🇯🇵 Japan

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 78.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Ryosuke Irie

2134

Yang Junxuan

76.6

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2018–active
Country: 🇨🇳 China

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Yang Junxuan

2135

William Renshaw

76.6

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1880–1889
Country: 🇬🇧 Great Britain

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 62.0

Athlete: William Renshaw

2136

Marion Motley

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1955
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Marion Motley

2137

Jerome Bettis

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1993–2005
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Jerome Bettis

2138

Elmer Lach

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1940–1954
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Elmer Lach

2139

Dale Hawerchuk

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1981–1997
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Dale Hawerchuk

2140

Michel Goulet

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1979–1994
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Michel Goulet

2141

John Riggins

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1971–1985
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: John Riggins

2142

Bob Hayes

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1965–1975
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Bob Hayes

2143

Dante Lavelli

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1956
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Dante Lavelli

2144

Clarke Hinkle

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1932–1941
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Clarke Hinkle

2145

Henry Jordan

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1969
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Henry Jordan

2146

Lionel Conacher

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1925–1937
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Lionel Conacher

2147

Charlie Gardiner

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1927–1934
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Charlie Gardiner

2148

Frank Fredrickson

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1920–1931
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Frank Fredrickson

2149

Émile Bouchard

76.6

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1941–1956
Country: 🇨🇦 Canada

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Émile Bouchard

2150

Gordon Lowe

76.6

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1907–1929
Country: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Gordon Lowe

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
2101	Johnny Unitas	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1956–1973	76.7
2102	Albert Pujols	Baseball	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	2001–2022	76.7
2103	Pat Rafter	Tennis	🇦🇺 Australia	1991–2001	76.7
2104	James DeGale	Boxing	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	2009–2019	76.7
2105	Sally Barsosio	Athletics	🇰🇪 Kenya	1993–2002	76.7
2106	Ferguson Jenkins	Baseball	🇨🇦 Canada	1965–1983	76.7
2107	Katharine Berkoff	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	2019–active	76.7
2108	Mark Alleyne	Cricket	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	1986–2005	76.7
2109	Fabricio Oberto	Basketball	🇦🇷 Argentina	1993–2011	76.7
2110	Lew Hoad	Tennis	🇦🇺 Australia	1951–1968	76.7
2111	Raymond Berry	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1955–1967	76.7
2112	Busher Jackson	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1929–1944	76.7
2113	William Clothier	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1900–1914	76.7
2114	John Doeg	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1926–1935	76.7
2115	Jack Cartwright	Swimming	🇦🇺 Australia	2016–active	76.7
2116	Marvin Anderson	Athletics	🇯🇲 Jamaica	2005–2014	76.7
2117	Jack Aikins	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	2019–active	76.7
2118	Rickey Henderson	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1979–2003	76.6
2119	Joe Sakic	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1988–2009	76.6
2120	Mats Wilander	Tennis	🇸🇪 Sweden	1980–1996	76.6
2121	Maureen Connolly	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1954	76.6
2122	Christy Mathewson	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1900–1916	76.6
2123	Liz Cambage	Basketball	🇦🇺 Australia	2011–2022	76.6
2124	Eddie Shore	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1924–1940	76.6
2125	Warren Spahn	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1942–1965	76.6
2126	Amar'e Stoudemire	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2002–2016	76.6
2127	Juan Martín del Potro	Tennis	🇦🇷 Argentina	2005–2022	76.6
2128	Budge Patty	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1961	76.6
2129	Pud Galvin	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1875–1892	76.6
2130	John Stallworth	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1987	76.6
2131	Patrick Peterson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2011–2023	76.6
2132	Bruno Fratus	Swimming	🇧🇷 Brazil	2009–2023	76.6
2133	Ryosuke Irie	Swimming	🇯🇵 Japan	2008–2021	76.6
2134	Yang Junxuan	Swimming	🇨🇳 China	2018–active	76.6
2135	William Renshaw	Tennis	🇬🇧 Great Britain	1880–1889	76.6
2136	Marion Motley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1955	76.6
2137	Jerome Bettis	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1993–2005	76.6
2138	Elmer Lach	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1940–1954	76.6
2139	Dale Hawerchuk	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1981–1997	76.6
2140	Michel Goulet	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1979–1994	76.6
2141	John Riggins	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1971–1985	76.6
2142	Bob Hayes	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1975	76.6
2143	Dante Lavelli	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1956	76.6
2144	Clarke Hinkle	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1932–1941	76.6
2145	Henry Jordan	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1969	76.6
2146	Lionel Conacher	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1925–1937	76.6
2147	Charlie Gardiner	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1927–1934	76.6
2148	Frank Fredrickson	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1920–1931	76.6
2149	Émile Bouchard	Ice Hockey	🇨🇦 Canada	1941–1956	76.6
2150	Gordon Lowe	Tennis	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	1907–1929	76.6

Compare the leaders

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.

Related rankings

Greatest female of all time Greatest male of all time Greatest active Athletes Greatest retired Athletes Greatest Boxers of all time Greatest Swimmers of all time Greatest Football Players of all time Greatest Tennis Players of all time Greatest Golfers of all time Greatest Formula 1 Drivers of all time Greatest Esports Players of all time Greatest Basketball Players of all time