Web desk: Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi has been named the best athlete of the 21st century by the Canadian magazine Le Journal de Quebec.
This ranking comes as the first 25 years of the century are completed and highlights 25 of the most influential athletes from around the world.
Who is the 21st century’s greatest athlete?
In the ranking, Messi not only surpassed his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo but also defeated other global sports stars, including NFL legend Tom Brady.
Messi currently plays for Inter Miami and serves as the captain of the Argentina national team. He led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The list includes athletes from different sports chosen for their achievements, awards, and global influence.
Tom Brady ranks second, while Michael Phelps is third. He is the most successful Olympian with 28 medals.
Other notable names include tennis star Serena Williams in fourth place. Sprinter Usain Bolt WAS fifth, and basketball superstar LeBron James was sixth.
Cristiano Ronaldo ranks tenth on the list. He is behind players such as tennis champion Novak Djokovic, gymnastics icon Simone Biles. Additionally, the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
Other great athletes included are Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stephen Curry, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Shohei Ohtani, and Marta.
Earlier this month, Messi led Inter Miami to their first Major League Soccer championship.
He has also been awarded multiple Golden Boot and MVP awards in recent seasons, further cementing his legacy as one of football’s greatest players.
