We’ve witnessed some pretty incredible athletes over the years, and a popular term has emerged as a direct result of how amazing these athletes have been – GOAT. This stands for the greatest of all time, and there have been many athletes who would easily be nominated for this title in their respective sports. Of course, sports fans will have their own individual opinions on who the GOAT is in the sport that they follow, but we’ve based our candidates on pure facts and figures.
Some of the athletes in this list have almost been superhuman in their sports, and as you will notice, many of them have another contender or two nipping at their heels. Let’s check out the GOATs of some of the top sports right now – let the debates and GOAT discussions begin!
Muhammad Ali – Boxing
He floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, of course, it’s Muhammad Ali. This man was everything that a GOAT should be. He was charismatic, charming, confident, crowd-pleasing, and so much more. Muhammad Ali has sadly left this world now, but the legacy he left was absolutely incredible, and it will live on for decades. Not only did Ali seem to have superhuman reflexes, but he was also tactically a magician when he stepped into the boxing ring. Unlike today when the odds on the “boxing’s best” are changing for every fight, match betting in the days of Muhammed Ali was probably not even worth it. Ali was simply the greatest.
Looking back, who can forget when a young Ali knocked out Sonny Liston in one of the greatest upsets of the decade back in 1964? Ali has been part of some phenomenal fights in his time, including the Thrilla in Manilla and the Rumble in the Jungle, and he finished his career with 61 fights and 56 wins. What many forget about Ali however is that he stood by his principals by opposing the Vietnam War and refusing to be enlisted in the military. Due to these principles, he lost his boxing titles, got arrested, but still stood by what he believed in.
Muhammad Ali really was the GOAT of boxing, and deservedly so, he is now referred to as ‘The Greatest’ among boxers all over the world.
Roger Federer – Tennis
This man has had to compete with some absolute legends to earn himself the title of the men’s tennis GOAT. He has surpassed the likes of Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi, and many others on his way to tennis glory. Roger Federer has amassed 20 Grand Slam titles during his lengthy career at the top of the men’s game, and he continues to wow fans today, despite the fact that he is now into his late 30s.
It isn’t just Federer’s title records that have us referring to him as the GOAT, it is the whole package that goes with it. Federer makes the game of tennis look effortless, and he is often referred to as the most graceful player that has ever lived. His shot-making is just incredible, as is his humility, which has earned him fans in every corner of the globe. Tennis fans are still debating whether players like Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal should have the GOAT title, but they just don’t have that magic that Roger Federer has.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Soccer
Once again, this one could spark some serious debate among soccer fans. Cristiano Ronaldo has become an absolute icon in the soccer world, and since his early days of playing at Manchester United, he’s attained almost God-like status. This man is a goal-scoring machine, not to mention his leadership skills and ability to motivate an entire squad of individuals. While Ronaldo is a goal-scoring machine, he is also extremely skillful and incredibly clutch in high-pressure games.
When it comes to the big games and the larger stages, he just always seems to deliver, which is what makes him more prolific than the likes of Lionel Messi. While his Champions League record and club records are nothing short of amazing, Ronaldo solidified his spot as the GOAT when he led Portugal to Euro victory back in 2016. Portugal isn’t exactly the most talented team, but Ronaldo proved just how influential he can be, and even managed from the sidelines during the final when he suffered an injury.
This man truly deserves the GOAT award in soccer, although he is among some pretty serious competition. Players like Pele, Maradonna, Messi, and Ronaldinho are all major competitors to be the GOAT, but in our opinion, Ronaldo beats them all.
Conclusion
GOAT discussions will go on forever, and people will always have differing opinions. Who knows, maybe in 10 or 20 years this list won’t even be relevant? After all, that’s the beauty of sport, and we can’t wait for more legends to emerge through the ranks in years to come.