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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 10 of 31.

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 (from #451)

  1. 451Arvydas SabonisArvydas SabonisCentre who won Olympic gold with the Soviet Union in 1988 and later starred for Portland Trail Blazers.Lithuanian · Born December 19, 1964View profile
  2. 452Gerard PiquéGerard PiquéCentre-back who won the 2010 World Cup with Spain and three Champions League titles with Barcelona.🇪🇸Spanish · Born February 2, 1987View profile
  3. 453HulkHulkForward who won the 2011 Europa League with Porto and later starred for Zenit and Atlético Mineiro.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born July 25, 1986View profile
  4. 454Robert PiresRobert PiresWinger in Arsenal's unbeaten 2003–04 Premier League side who also won Euro 2000 with France.🇫🇷French · Born October 29, 1973View profile
  5. 455Álvaro MorataÁlvaro MorataStriker who captained Spain to victory at Euro 2024 after spells at Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea.🇪🇸Spanish · Born October 23, 1992View profile
  6. 456Roberto MartínezRoberto MartínezManager who won the FA Cup with Wigan Athletic in 2013 and took Belgium to World Cup bronze.🇪🇸Spanish · Born July 13, 1973View profile
  7. 457Frank LampardFrank LampardMidfielder who became Chelsea's all-time record goalscorer and won the 2012 Champions League with the club.🇬🇧British · Born June 20, 1978View profile
  8. 458Paul PogbaPaul PogbaPowerful midfielder who won the 2018 World Cup with France after spells at Juventus and Manchester United.🇫🇷French · Born March 15, 1993View profile
  9. 459Ole Gunnar SolskjærOle Gunnar SolskjærManchester United substitute who scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.🇳🇴Norwegian · Born February 26, 1973View profile
  10. 460Alan ShearerAlan ShearerStriker whose 260 goals make him the Premier League's top scorer, mainly for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United.🇬🇧British · Born August 13, 1970View profile
  11. 461Gianluca ZambrottaGianluca ZambrottaVersatile full-back who won the 2006 World Cup with Italy and played for Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan.🇮🇹Italian · Born February 19, 1977View profile
  12. 462Thiago MottaThiago MottaMidfielder in Inter Milan's 2010 treble-winning side who later coached Bologna to Champions League qualification.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born August 28, 1982View profile
  13. 463Michael PhelpsMichael PhelpsSwimmer who collected 23 Olympic gold medals, the most won by any athlete.🇺🇸American · Born June 30, 1985View profile
  14. 464Yann SommerYann SommerGoalkeeper who saved Kylian Mbappé's penalty as Switzerland knocked out France at Euro 2020.🇨🇭Swiss · Born December 17, 1988View profile
  15. 465Diego MilitoDiego MilitoStriker who scored both goals in the 2010 Champions League final as Inter Milan completed a historic treble.🇦🇷Argentine · Born June 12, 1979View profile
  16. 466LúcioLúcioCentre-back who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and the 2010 treble with Inter Milan.🇧🇷Brazilian · Born May 8, 1978View profile
  17. 467Bruno FernandesBruno FernandesPortuguese playmaker who became Manchester United captain after joining the club from Sporting in 2020.🇵🇹Portuguese · Born September 8, 1994View profile
  18. 468Michael OwenMichael OwenStriker who won the 2001 Ballon d'Or while at Liverpool and scored 40 goals for England.🇬🇧British · Born December 14, 1979View profile
  19. 469Monica SelesMonica SelesWon nine Grand Slam singles titles, including three straight French Opens, before being stabbed at a 1993 tournament.🇭🇺Hungarian · Born December 2, 1973View profile
  20. 470Gary LinekerGary LinekerWon the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup with six goals, then became presenter of Match of the Day.🇬🇧British · Born November 30, 1960View profile
  21. 471Ole Einar BjørndalenOle Einar BjørndalenNorwegian biathlete who won eight Winter Olympic gold medals and became known as the King of Biathlon.🇳🇴Norwegian · Born January 27, 1974View profile
  22. 472IscoIscoAttacking midfielder who won several Champions League titles with Real Madrid and played for Spain at the 2018 World Cup.🇪🇸Spanish · Born April 21, 1992View profile
  23. 473Mario BalotelliMario BalotelliStriker whose two goals against Germany in the semi-final helped Italy reach the final of Euro 2012.🇮🇹Italian · Born August 12, 1990View profile
  24. 474
    HW
    Hidemaro WatanabeFootballer who earned a place in the Japan national team, a long-lived figure in the country's football history.🇯🇵Japanese · Born September 24, 1924 · Died October 12, 2011View profile
  25. 475Eden HazardEden HazardDribbling winger who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea and captained Belgium.🇧🇪Belgian · Born January 7, 1991View profile
  26. 476Sergio AgüeroSergio AgüeroScored the stoppage-time goal against Queens Park Rangers that won Manchester City the 2011–12 Premier League title.🇦🇷Argentine · Born June 2, 1988View profile
  27. 477Wilma RudolphWilma RudolphSprinter who became the first American woman to win three gold medals at one Olympics, in Rome in 1960.🇺🇸American · Born June 23, 1940 · Died November 12, 1994View profile
  28. 478Maria SharapovaMaria SharapovaTennis player who won Wimbledon at seventeen and went on to complete a career Grand Slam, finishing as world number one.🇷🇺Russian · Born April 19, 1987View profile
  29. 479RodriRodriMidfielder who won the 2024 Ballon d'Or after anchoring Manchester City and Spain's Euro 2024 triumph.🇪🇸Spanish · Born June 22, 1996View profile
  30. 480Dani CarvajalDani CarvajalReal Madrid right-back who scored a header in the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.🇪🇸Spanish · Born January 11, 1992View profile
  31. 481Juan Román RiquelmeJuan Román RiquelmePlaymaker who led Boca Juniors to the 2007 Copa Libertadores and later became the club's president.🇦🇷Argentine · Born June 24, 1978View profile
  32. 482Yannick NoahYannick NoahTennis player who won the 1983 French Open singles title and later captained France to Davis Cup success.🇫🇷French · Born May 18, 1960View profile
  33. 483Jesús NavasJesús NavasRight-winger who won the 2010 World Cup with Spain and captained Sevilla to the 2023 Europa League.🇪🇸Spanish · Born November 21, 1985View profile
  34. 484Vincent KompanyVincent KompanyCaptained Manchester City to four Premier League titles before becoming a manager and taking charge at Bayern Munich.🇧🇪Belgian · Born April 10, 1986View profile
  35. 485Rafael van der VaartRafael van der VaartAttacking midfielder who captained Ajax and played in the Netherlands side beaten in the 2010 World Cup final.🇳🇱Dutch · Born February 11, 1983View profile
  36. 486Steven GerrardSteven GerrardLiverpool captain who inspired the 2005 Champions League final comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul.🇬🇧British · Born May 30, 1980View profile
  37. 487John CharlesJohn CharlesWelsh forward and defender who starred for Juventus, winning three Serie A titles in Turin.🇬🇧British · Born December 27, 1931 · Died February 21, 2004View profile
  38. 488Hank AaronHank AaronBaseball slugger who passed Babe Ruth's career home run record in 1974 and finished with 755.🇺🇸American · Born February 5, 1934 · Died January 22, 2021View profile
  39. 489
    TM
    Teruki MiyamotoJapanese footballer and later manager who earned caps for the national team.🇯🇵Japanese · Born December 26, 1940 · Died February 2, 2000View profile
  40. 490Luca ToniLuca ToniStriker who scored 31 league goals for Fiorentina in 2005-06 and won the 2006 World Cup with Italy.🇮🇹Italian · Born May 26, 1977View profile
  41. 491Paul ScholesPaul ScholesManchester United midfielder admired for his passing, who won eleven Premier League titles with the club.🇬🇧British · Born November 16, 1974View profile
  42. 492Luka DončićLuka DončićGuard who helped Slovenia win EuroBasket 2017 and twice topped the NBA scoring charts.Slovene · Born February 28, 1999View profile
  43. 493Ivan RakitićIvan RakitićMidfielder who won the 2015 Champions League with Barcelona and helped Croatia reach the 2018 World Cup final.🇨🇭Swiss · Born March 10, 1988View profile
  44. 494Eric AbidalEric AbidalFrench defender who won two Champions Leagues with Barcelona and returned from liver surgery to play in the 2011 final.🇫🇷French · Born September 11, 1979View profile
  45. 495Arantxa Sánchez VicarioArantxa Sánchez VicarioWon the 1989 French Open by beating Steffi Graf, then collected three more Grand Slam singles titles.🇪🇸Spanish · Born December 18, 1971View profile
  46. 496Edin DžekoEdin DžekoStriker who scored in Manchester City's dramatic 2011–12 title win and is Bosnia's record goalscorer.Herzegovinian · Born March 17, 1986View profile
  47. 497Khabib NurmagomedovKhabib NurmagomedovUnbeaten UFC lightweight champion from Dagestan who retired with a 29-0 record.🇷🇺Russian · Born September 20, 1988View profile
  48. 498
    TT
    Teizo TakeuchiEarly Japanese international footballer who played for the national side before the Second World War.🇯🇵Japanese · Born November 6, 1908 · Died April 12, 1946View profile
  49. 499Thiago AlcântaraThiago AlcântaraCreative midfielder who won the Champions League with Bayern Munich and Liverpool's Premier League title, after earlier success at Barcelona.🇪🇸Spanish · Born April 11, 1991View profile
  50. 500Jay-Jay OkochaJay-Jay OkochaFlamboyant Nigeria playmaker who won Olympic gold in 1996 and became a favourite at Bolton Wanderers.🇳🇬Nigerian · Born August 14, 1973View 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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