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Famous Athletes

The best-known sportspeople in our archive, ranked by historical popularity.

1,514 athletes in our database, ranked by historical popularity. Page 1 of 31.

An athlete becomes notable by doing something in sport that people keep talking about: breaking records, winning the biggest titles, or changing how a game is played. The most famous go further and become symbols of their country or their era, known well beyond the fans of their own sport.

This list covers the footballers, boxers, tennis players, racing drivers, Olympians and other sportspeople in our database. We rank them by historical popularity rather than by trophies or statistics, so a sport's greatest player and its most famous player are not always the same person.

Who is included: everyone in our database whose primary occupation matches this list. Each person must have an English Wikipedia article and a full date of birth recorded on Wikidata. A growing share of people also have an original profile, written to our editorial rules and marked with a Last reviewed date.

Most famous athlete

Muhammad Ali

Highest historical popularity score (HPI 90.7)

Most common birth month

August

146 of 1,514 were born in August

Living vs deceased

1,357 / 157

90% are still living

Most common nationality

Japanese

233 people, 15% of the list

Editor-written profiles

81

5% have a full original profile so far

The ranked list

  1. 01Muhammad AliMuhammad AliThree-time heavyweight champion who beat George Foreman in the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle.🇺🇸American · Born January 17, 1942 · Died June 3, 2016View profile
  2. 02PeléPeléForward who won three World Cups with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and became football's first global superstar.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born October 23, 1940 · Died December 29, 2022View profile
  3. 03Johan CruyffJohan CruyffTotal Football icon who led Ajax to three straight European Cups and won three Ballon d'Or awards.🇳🇱Dutch · Born April 25, 1947 · Died March 24, 2016View profile
  4. 04Franz BeckenbauerFranz BeckenbauerDefender who captained West Germany to the 1974 World Cup and later managed them to the 1990 title.🇩🇪German · Born September 11, 1945 · Died January 7, 2024View profile
  5. 05Gerd MüllerGerd MüllerBayern Munich striker who scored 365 Bundesliga goals and netted the winner in the 1974 World Cup final.🇩🇪German · Born November 3, 1945 · Died August 15, 2021View profile
  6. 06Ayrton SennaAyrton SennaBrazilian driver who won three Formula One world championships with McLaren and was killed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born March 21, 1960 · Died May 1, 1994View profile
  7. 07Ferenc PuskásFerenc PuskásForward who starred for Hungary's Golden Team and scored four in Real Madrid's 1960 European Cup final win.🇭🇺Hungarian · Born April 1, 1927 · Died November 17, 2006View profile
  8. 08Diego MaradonaDiego MaradonaCaptained Argentina to the 1986 World Cup, scoring the infamous Hand of God goal and a famous solo goal against England.🇦🇷Argentine · Born October 30, 1960 · Died November 25, 2020View profile
  9. 09Lev YashinLev YashinDynamo Moscow goalkeeper who won the 1963 Ballon d'Or, the only keeper ever to do so.🇷🇺Soviet · Born October 21, 1929 · Died March 20, 1990View profile
  10. 10Ip ManIp ManWing Chun grandmaster who taught in Hong Kong and became known as the teacher of Bruce Lee.Hong Konger · Born October 1, 1893 · Died December 2, 1972View profile
  11. 11Alfredo Di StéfanoAlfredo Di StéfanoReal Madrid forward who scored in each of the first five European Cup finals.🇦🇷Argentine · Born July 4, 1926 · Died July 7, 2014View profile
  12. 12EusébioEusébioBenfica striker who finished as top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, with nine goals for Portugal.🇵🇹Portuguese · Born January 25, 1942 · Died January 5, 2014View profile
  13. 13Niki LaudaNiki LaudaWon three Formula One world titles, famously returning to racing soon after his near-fatal 1976 crash at the Nürburgring.🇦🇹Austrian · Born February 22, 1949 · Died May 20, 2019View profile
  14. 14Carlo AncelottiCarlo AncelottiManager who has won the Champions League five times, with AC Milan and Real Madrid.🇮🇹Italian · Born June 10, 1959View profile
  15. 15Alex FergusonAlex FergusonManager who won 13 Premier League titles and the 1999 Champions League with Manchester United.🇬🇧British · Born December 31, 1941View profile
  16. 16GarrinchaGarrinchaDribbling right winger who helped Brazil win the 1958 and 1962 World Cups while starring for Botafogo.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born October 28, 1933 · Died January 20, 1983View profile
  17. 17Michael SchumacherMichael SchumacherFormula One driver who won seven world titles, five of them with Ferrari.🇩🇪German · Born January 3, 1969View profile
  18. 18Giuseppe MeazzaGiuseppe MeazzaInter Milan striker who won the 1934 and 1938 World Cups with Italy, and has Milan's San Siro stadium named after him.🇮🇹Italian · Born August 23, 1910 · Died August 21, 1979View profile
  19. 19Wilhelm SteinitzWilhelm SteinitzChess master who won the first official world championship match against Johannes Zukertort in 1886 and pioneered positional play.🇺🇸American · Born May 14, 1836 · Died August 12, 1900View profile
  20. 20Santiago Bernabéu YesteSantiago Bernabéu YesteLong-serving Real Madrid president whose name is carried by the club's stadium and who oversaw five European Cup wins.🇪🇸Spanish · Born June 8, 1895 · Died June 2, 1978View profile
  21. 21Alain ProstAlain ProstFrench driver nicknamed The Professor who won four Formula One world titles.🇫🇷French · Born February 24, 1955View profile
  22. 22Zinedine ZidaneZinedine ZidaneMidfielder who scored twice in the 1998 World Cup final, then coached Real Madrid to three straight Champions League titles.🇫🇷French · Born June 23, 1972View profile
  23. 23Bobby FischerBobby FischerAmerican chess prodigy who beat Boris Spassky in Reykjavik in 1972 to become world champion.🇺🇸American · Born March 9, 1943 · Died January 17, 2008View profile
  24. 24Michel PlatiniMichel PlatiniMidfielder who captained France to victory at Euro 1984, scoring nine goals in the tournament.🇫🇷French · Born June 21, 1955View profile
  25. 25Boris SpasskyBoris SpasskyChess grandmaster who lost his world title to Bobby Fischer in the famous 1972 match in Reykjavik.🇷🇺Russian · Born January 30, 1937 · Died February 27, 2025View profile
  26. 26ZicoZicoMidfielder who starred for Flamengo's 1981 Copa Libertadores winners and for Brazil at the 1982 World Cup.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born March 3, 1953View profile
  27. 27Juan Manuel FangioJuan Manuel FangioWon five Formula One world drivers' championships in the 1950s, a record that stood for decades.🇦🇷Argentine · Born June 24, 1911 · Died July 17, 1995View profile
  28. 28Cristiano RonaldoCristiano RonaldoForward who won five Ballon d'Or awards and is the Champions League's all-time leading scorer.🇵🇹Portuguese · Born February 5, 1985View profile
  29. 29Arsène WengerArsène WengerManaged Arsenal for 22 years, including the unbeaten 2003–04 Premier League title-winning season of the Invincibles.🇫🇷French · Born October 22, 1949View profile
  30. 30RonaldoRonaldoStriker who scored twice in the 2002 World Cup final as Brazil beat Germany.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born September 18, 1976View profile
  31. 31Edmund HillaryEdmund HillaryReached the summit of Mount Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1953, then devoted much of his later life to aiding Sherpa communities.🇳🇿New Zealander · Born July 20, 1919 · Died January 11, 2008View profile
  32. 32Pep GuardiolaPep GuardiolaManager who led Barcelona to the 2009 sextuple and Manchester City to the 2023 treble.🇪🇸Spanish · Born January 18, 1971View profile
  33. 33José MourinhoJosé MourinhoManager who won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and again with Inter Milan in 2010.🇵🇹Portuguese · Born January 26, 1963View profile
  34. 34Jupp HeynckesJupp HeynckesManager who led Bayern Munich to the 2013 treble after winning the 1974 World Cup as a player.🇩🇪German · Born May 9, 1945View profile
  35. 35Eddy MerckxEddy MerckxNicknamed the Cannibal, he won the Tour de France five times and broke the hour record in 1972.🇧🇪Belgian · Born June 17, 1945View profile
  36. 36Dino ZoffDino ZoffGoalkeeper who captained Italy to the 1982 World Cup, lifting the trophy at the age of forty.🇮🇹Italian · Born February 28, 1942View profile
  37. 37Luis SuárezLuis SuárezMidfielder who won the 1960 Ballon d'Or and played in Spain's Euro 1964 victory.🇪🇸Spanish · Born May 2, 1935 · Died July 9, 2023View profile
  38. 38O. J. SimpsonO. J. SimpsonBuffalo Bills running back who became the first player to rush for 2,000 yards in an NFL season.🇺🇸American · Born July 9, 1947 · Died April 10, 2024View profile
  39. 39Bobby CharltonBobby CharltonManchester United and England great who won the 1966 World Cup and survived the Munich air disaster.🇬🇧British · Born October 11, 1937 · Died October 21, 2023View profile
  40. 40José Raúl CapablancaJosé Raúl CapablancaCuban who won the world chess title by beating Emanuel Lasker in 1921, renowned for endgame mastery.🇨🇺Cuban · Born November 6, 1888 · Died March 8, 1942View profile
  41. 41Luis EnriqueLuis EnriqueCoach who led Barcelona to the treble in 2015 and Paris Saint-Germain to the 2025 Champions League.🇪🇸Spanish · Born May 8, 1970View profile
  42. 42Fabio CapelloFabio CapelloManager who won the 1994 Champions League with AC Milan and later coached Real Madrid and England.🇮🇹Italian · Born June 18, 1946View profile
  43. 43Claudio RanieriClaudio RanieriManager who led Leicester City to the improbable 2015-16 Premier League title at odds of 5000-1.🇮🇹Italian · Born October 20, 1951View profile
  44. 44Emil ZátopekEmil ZátopekDistance runner nicknamed the Czech Locomotive who won three golds at the 1952 Olympics.🇨🇿Czech · Born September 19, 1922 · Died November 21, 2000View profile
  45. 45Paco GentoPaco GentoWinger who won a record six European Cups with Real Madrid.🇪🇸Spanish · Born October 21, 1933 · Died January 18, 2022View profile
  46. 46Louis van GaalLouis van GaalManager who led Ajax to the 1995 Champions League and later took charge of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.🇳🇱Dutch · Born August 8, 1951View profile
  47. 47Paavo NurmiPaavo NurmiDistance runner who won nine Olympic gold medals across the 1920, 1924 and 1928 Games.🇫🇮Finn · Born June 13, 1897 · Died October 2, 1973View profile
  48. 48Mário ZagalloMário ZagalloBrazilian who won the World Cup as a player in 1958 and 1962 and as manager in 1970.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born August 9, 1931 · Died January 5, 2024View profile
  49. 49Mikhail TalMikhail TalChess attacker famed for daring sacrifices, who took the 1960 world championship by beating Mikhail Botvinnik.Latvian · Born November 9, 1936 · Died June 27, 1992View profile
  50. 50George BestGeorge BestNorthern Ireland winger who won the 1968 European Cup and the Ballon d'Or with Manchester United.🇬🇧British · Born May 22, 1946 · Died November 25, 2005View profile

How we rank and select

  • Ranking: people are ordered by their Historical Popularity Index (HPI) from Pantheon. HPI combines how many Wikipedia language editions have an article about a person, how many page views those articles get, how evenly the views are spread across languages and how long ago the person lived. People Pantheon does not yet cover are listed after them, ordered by our own popularity score (the number of Wikipedia language editions with an article about them).
  • Membership: each person appears in one occupation list only, based on their primary occupation as classified by Pantheon (for example, a queen who wrote poetry is listed as royalty, not as a writer). Kings, queens, emperors, sultans and royal consorts are not listed as politicians or writers: anyone who held a monarch's office on Wikidata, and never served as a president or head of government, counts as royalty. For the few people Pantheon does not cover, we use the primary field recorded in our database.
  • One-line summaries: each summary is an original line written for this site with AI assistance under our editorial rules, then checked against the Wikipedia introduction so no wording is copied.
  • Statistics: every figure on this page is calculated live from our database each time the page loads, so it changes as we add people.

Further reading

Reviewed by the Who Shares My Birthday editorial team.

Last reviewed: October 2026

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