Who do you think is now the most well-known athlete on the planet right now? 5Times has compiled a list of the most well-known sportsmen and women right now.
Novak Djokovic – Tennis
Tennis player Novak Djokovic from Serbia begins our list of celeb sportspeople. The 35-year-old has been claiming Grand Slams left, right, and centre over the past three years. Although Djokovic lost the Wimbledon championship to Carlos Alcaraz at the beginning of July, he has dominated men’s tennis since Roger Federer’s retirement and Rafael Nadal’s onset of physical issues.
This is not to suggest that he wasn’t successful before the duo left the international tennis stage; he most definitely was. He was often referred to collectively with them as “The Big Three,” which occasionally expanded to four to include Andy Murray.
Rafael Nadal – Tennis
Rafael Nadal follows just behind Djokovic on our list. The Spaniard won 22 Grand Slams between 2005 and 2022, 14 of which came in the French Open. Nadal holds the record for the longest winning run on a single surface with 81 matches, thanks to his passion for the clay court.
This year, the 36-year-old Spaniard battled a hip problem, which caused him to fall below the world’s top 100 for the first time since 2003. Sadly, as a result, Djokovic won both the Australian Open and the French Open, and he forfeited his chance to defend both championships.
Roger Federer
Roger Federer, the final member of tennis’ “Big Three,” is more well-known than either Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic. The Swiss native has shown dignity both on the court and since his retirement in 2022, off it. His attendance at Wimbledon this summer demonstrated the respect he has developed throughout his career.
He also had a humorous exchange with Andy Murray following the Scotsman’s triumph in the first round, but how could you not respect a man who has won 20 Grand Slam championships and is regarded on par with Nadal and Djokovic?
LeBron James
LeBron James, a basketball legend who is closing in on the end of a tremendous career, is the most well-known NBA player currently playing. James has won four NBA championships, four NBA finals MVPs, and four league MVP awards while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and current Los Angeles Lakers.
James, 38, now owns shares in both his favourite Premier League team Liverpool and Serie A team AC Milan, according to Forbes, making him the first active player to reach the billion-dollar mark. It’s interesting to note that James appeared in the 2015 film Trainwreck with John Cena.
Michael Jordan
“By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time,” the NBA said. The sixth and last NBA championship Jordan won with the Chicago Bulls was featured in the Netflix series “The Last Dance,” which also looked back on the ascent of the team and MJ. The show highlighted the athlete and the man who excelled in the “Windy City.”
MJ Jordan sneakers have become the brand’s signature, making it widely known today. Since then, it has grown to produce various types of clothes, including jumpers, t-shirts, and hats, and for the past few seasons, it has even produced the PSG kits.
Tiger Woods – Golf
Tiger Woods, one of the all-time best golfers, is third on our list. Since his achievement at the age of 24 in 2000, to date, he still holds the record for being the youngest player to win the golf Grand Slam. Since then, he has won the same award twice, making him only the second golfer, after Jack Nicklaus, to accomplish that.
In addition, Woods has triumphed in 81 PGA Tour competitions and 15 professional major golf tournaments. 2019 saw Woods receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, making him the fourth golfer to receive that honour outside of the sport.
Serena Williams – Tennis
The all-time leader in women’s tennis success. Up until the former world champions’ retirement in 2022, sisters Serena and Venus ruled the women’s tennis world. In their combined total of 30 Grand Slam victories, the younger of the two claimed 23.
Williams has won several awards outside of tennis, including “Laureus Sportswoman of the Year” in 2003, 2010, 2016, and 2018, “Sportsperson of the Year” from Sports Illustrated in 2015, and the distinction of being the only woman to rank among the top 100 athletes according to Forbes in 2017.
John Cena – WWE
Although some may argue that WWE is not a sport, we at 5Times could argue with that statement. Cena first gained notoriety in the WWF/E (World Wrestling Foundation), where he rose to the position of the group’s most recognisable member. Even though he has earned several awards in the WWE, his 16 unbeaten reigns as world champion stand out.
The 45-year-old has undoubtedly broadened his range outside of the WWE, even making an appearance in the newest “Barbie” film. This is not Cena’s first dip into Hollywood; he has appeared in movies including Ferdinand, Trainwreck, and Bumblebee.
Conor McGregor
The Irishman has done a great job of marketing the UFC sport and has gone on to become the most well-known mixed martial artist of all time. Throughout his MMA career, McGregor has held the titles of featherweight and lightweight champion.
The 34-year-old is better known for his frequently divisive and aggressive demeanour, frequently providing the media and UFC fans with ideal content. In his homeland of Dublin, where Guinness is especially well-liked, McGregor also opened his own bar.
Tom Brady
He is the first athlete from a completely American sport to be included on the list and has ruled the NFL since the New England Patriots selected him in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Before moving south to Tampa Bay in 2019, Brady won six Super Bowls and four Super Bowl MVP awards while playing for Foxborough.
Brady later became one of the very few players to take home the Lombardi Trophy from two separate teams. At the age of 43, he helped the Buccaneers win their first Super Bowl since 2002 alongside longtime colleague Rob Gronkowski.
Steph Curry
Michael Jordan, the late great Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and now Steph Curry have all served as the NBA’s eyes and ears over the last several decades. The Golden State Warrior has three NBA titles, six all-star appearances, and two league MVP awards to his credit.
The record for the most combined three-pointers made in a season (together with teammate Klay Thompson) is held by the son of former NBA player Dell Curry, who amassed 484 in the 2013–14 season.
Neymar
Throughout his career, Neymar has frequently embodied samba flare, “Joga Bonito,” or just plain fun, particularly while he was playing for Barcelona alongside Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi in an explosive front three.
Brazilian football players for some reason always have the crowd cheering. However, after his historic move to PSG in the summer of 2017, Neymar has been under fire from several fans and commentators who questioned his aspirations. Given PSG’s financial advantage over its rivals, it is possible to argue that Ligue 1 is a less competitive league than La Liga.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo, a football phenomenon from Portugal, cannot be left out. Ronaldo, who is currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has achieved the pinnacle of his footballing career, which has seen him win five separate Ballon d’Or awards, several Champions Leagues, domestic championships in England, Spain, and Italy.
Ronaldo has only been unable to win one title, the World Cup and his national team haven’t quite had the talent to get that far. However, Portugal did triumph against France at the 2016 European Championships, startling the hosts as Ronaldo, who was forced to leave the game due to injury, served as an assistant manager from the sidelines.
Usain Bolt
Known as the fastest man on the planet, Bolt made Olympic history by breaking the World Record twice in both Beijing 2008 and London 2012. 9.69 seconds in China and 9.63 seconds in London. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Bolt also won a third 100-meter gold medal.
In addition to his accomplishments in the 100-meter sprint, the Jamaican also won five additional gold medals—three in the 200-meter race and two in the 4×100-meter relay.
Leo Messi
The argument over who is “The most renowned athlete on the globe” will never end, but in this particular case, Lionel Messi has prevailed, beating out his longtime adversary Cristiano Ronaldo. Like Ronaldo, Messi just left Europe’s football capital for a journey with Inter Miami in the United States.
More comparisons between the two have resulted in discussions on which league is more powerful. Nevertheless, Messi and Ronaldo differ in one important respect: Messi won the World Cup following Argentina’s triumph in Qatar in December.
