The debate over who is the true Greatest of All Time is as fierce as any sporting rivalry. From the football field to the baseball diamond, fans have argued, analyzed and even fallen out over their chosen icons. Think Messi versus Ronaldo, or LeBron versus Jordan – contests that ignite barroom debates, fill social media feeds and divide loyalties across generations.
Even when the final whistle blows on an athlete’s career, their legacy continues to spark discussion.
But greatness isn’t just about dazzling skills or highlight-reel moments. It’s about sustained dominance, the ability to influence a sport’s direction, and the magnetism to inspire millions. True GOATs change the game, and in the world of sports betting, they can even shift the odds.
That’s why Hard Rock Bet is cutting through the noise to crown the undisputed legends of major sports.
By looking at influence, fandom and win percentage, we’re separating the myth from the measurable. From established icons like Serena Williams and Lionel Messi to the rising phenomenon of Caitlin Clark, this is where statistics meet legacy, and the GOAT debate finally gets its scoreboard.
Sports Legends Who Transcended the Game
There are some athletes who take their beloved sport to a whole new level. In recognition of this unwavering dedication, here are the top 10 athletes who have transcended their sport:
1. Lionel Messi
A magician with the ball, Messi’s vision, precision and record-breaking feats for club and country cement his status as soccer’s most complete modern player. With a win rate of 67.20%, more than 506 million Instagram followers and a total score in our rankings of 61.85 out of 100, Messi is THE ultimate GOAT.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Relentless work ethic, unmatched athleticism and goal-scoring consistency across leagues and nations have made Ronaldo a global icon and one of soccer’s most decorated champions. Ronaldo has a win rate of 65.90% and more than 661 million Instagram followers. When these are combined with other factors, he receives a total score of 57.48.
3. Michael Jordan
Six NBA titles, a flawless Finals record and an era-defining impact on basketball culture make Jordan the ultimate benchmark for sporting greatness. Though retired, Jordan’s name is constantly brought up when discussing the sport thanks to his exceptional record. A win rate of 65.85% and a net worth of over 3.6 billion dollars contribute to his overall score of 53.90.
4. LeBron James
A dominant all-rounder, LeBron James blends scoring, playmaking and leadership, breaking records and redefining longevity at the pinnacle of NBA competition. His win rate is 64.02% and his Wikipedia page has received over 8 million views in the last year alone. This gives him a total score of 49.07.
5. Novak Djokovic
With the most Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis history, Djokovic’s adaptability, mental toughness and endurance have kept him at the sport’s summit for years. An impressive win rate of 83.62% and more than 16 million Instagram followers result in a total score of 41.18.
6. Carlos Alcaraz
Explosive speed, fearless shot-making and multiple Grand Slam wins at a young age mark Alcaraz as tennis’s future, and perhaps the future GOAT of Tennis in the making. Alcaraz has a win rate of 78.21% and his Wikipedia page views topped 6.5 million in the last 12 months. His total score is 40.83, placing him at number six, which is above both Federer and Nadal.
7. Roger Federer
Federer’s effortless style, 20 Grand Slam titles and unmatched grace under pressure have made him one of the most beloved and influential ambassadors of men’s tennis. Now retired, his win rate was a sky-high 81.91% and his net worth is a smooth $750 million, giving him a total score of 38.96.
8. Mike Tyson
Ferocious power, lightning-fast knockouts and reigning as the youngest heavyweight champion established Tyson as one of boxing’s most feared and electrifying fighters. The retired champion’s total score is 38.54, which is partly due to a win rate of 87.72% and an Instagram following of 33+ million. Despite once calling Muhammad Ali the greatest of all time, Tyson is three above him in our rankings.
9. Rafael Nadal
Another retired legend of the court, the King of Clay gained 14 French Open titles. Nadal’s relentless fight, resilience and sportsmanship have left an indelible mark on men’s tennis history, especially thanks to an 82.61% win rate. Add to this almost 3.5 million Wikipedia page views over the last year, and Nadal gets a total score of 37.40.
10. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
An unbeaten professional record, defensive mastery and the ability to outthink every opponent have made Mayweather a boxing legend. Once one of the sport’s smartest tacticians and now retired, Mayweather has a flawless win rate of 100% and his net worth is $400 million. This gives him a total score of 35.78 out of 100.
A Note on Golfers:
So, where’s Tiger Woods? Our methodology (outlined fully below) uses factors like current global social media reach, recent pageviews, and modern-day visibility, alongside traditional performance metrics. Despite Tiger’s extraordinary dominance and transformative impact on golf and broader sports culture, these criteria placed him outside our Top 20. It’s not a reflection of golf’s global importance or Woods’ iconic legacy, but rather an outcome of the particular metrics we chose to emphasize in this ranking. Agree or disagree with our approach? We’d love your feedback.
The Greatest Women in Sporting History
Ready to celebrate female sport legends? Here are the top ten from across the world of sports:
1. Serena Williams
With 23 Grand Slam singles titles, unrivalled power and a two-decade reign, Serena redefined women’s tennis and inspired generations far beyond the sport. Now retired, the GOAT of female tennis has a win rate of 86.60%, giving her a total score of 32.94 out of 100.
2. Steffi Graf
Holder of the only Golden Slam, Graf’s dominance, versatility, and ability to excel on all tennis court surfaces made her an all-time great. Even in retirement, her win rate of 88.69% is still spoken about with reverence. Her total score is 32.74.
3. Venus Williams
Trailblazing the power game, winning seven Grand Slam singles titles, and pioneering the fight for equal prize money solidify Venus’s lasting influence on and off the court. Still active in women’s tennis, with a win rate of 74.60% and a total score of 32.24.
4. Simone Biles
The most decorated gymnast ever, Biles combines jaw-dropping dexterity with unmatched consistency, redefining what’s possible in gymnastics and becoming a global role model. The seven time Olympic gold medalist ranks fourth overall with a total score of 27.77.
5. Allyson Felix
Seven Olympic golds, world titles and advocacy for athletes’ rights make Felix both a track legend and a champion of equality in sport. Regarded as the female GOAT of track and field, Felix has a win rate of 58.33% and a total score of 26.71.
6. Katie Ledecky
Dominating long-distance freestyle with multiple Olympic golds and world records, Ledecky’s endurance and technique make her one of swimming’s most unassailable champions. Her win rate of 60.00% contributes to her total score of 24.97.
7. Martina Navratilova
Eighteen singles and 31 doubles Grand Slam titles, plus unmatched longevity, make Navratilova one of tennis’s most complete and enduring champions. Now retired, she has an 87.00% win rate and a total score of 24.76.
8. Caitlin Clark
A rising star in women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark has shattered scoring records and redefined long-range shooting at the college level. Her fearless style, court vision and magnetic fan appeal have made her a household name, signalling the arrival of a new generation of marketable, game-changing WNBA superstars. The two time All-Star Indiana Fever Guard who was crowned Rookie of the year last season ranks 8th with a total score of 23.67.
9. Diana Taurasi
Three-time WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist, Taurasi’s leadership and clutch performances define her status in women’s basketball. Now retired, she holds the title of all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points throughout her career. She ranks 9th in our list with a total score of 22.94.
10. Ronda Rousey
Olympic judo medallist turned UFC trailblazer, Rousey’s dominance and charisma brought women’s MMA into the mainstream and inspired a generation of fighters. The retired athlete’s win rate of 77.78%, combined with other factors, gives her a total score of 22.86.
Goat vs Goat: The Greatest Rivalries in Sports History
Over the years, there have been some nail-biting rivalries across a wide range of sports. In soccer, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pelé spring to mind, with GOATmeter percentages of 96.39%, 67.46% and 41.12%, respectively. Yes, that’s right, these athletes are so influential that we have to create our own GOATmeter to quantify their impact on their respective sport.
And when we think of the NBA, Michael Jordan (95.65% GOATmeter score), LeBron James (88.01%) and the late Kobe Bryant (45.06%) are the most obvious contenders. But going way back, Babe Ruth tops the MLB’s GOATmeter at 91.34%, with Aaron Judge (80.58%) in second place and Willie Mays (40.40%) in third.
Tennis also has its fair share of rivalries, too, with Novak Djokovic at the top of the GOATmeter with a score of 96.24%, which is significantly higher than that of Roger Federer (75.94%) and Rafael Nadal (73.33%).
Finally, of course, we have the NFL, where countless players dream to dethrone Tom Brady as the GOAT of football. Lamar Jackson comes in at number three with a GOATmeter score of 42.22%. At number two, it’s Patrick Mahomes with 84.77%. But soaring way above them, is Tom Brady, who is widely considered the greatest NFL player of all time.
Active Athletes and Their Shot at Greatness
Many of the athletes we’ve already mentioned are still active and still proving why they belong in the GOAT conversation. Lionel Messi continues to light up the soccer pitch and is even the second-most backed anytime goalscorer in 2025, showing fans still expect him to deliver. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, remains a dangerous presence, ranking as the 12th most bet scorer on a per-game basis.
In the NBA, LeBron James is still drawing wagers to win MVP at age 40, a testament to how much belief there still is in his ability to shine. On the tennis courts, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic head into the US Open as two of the most-backed contenders, third and fifth respectively, underlining their continued dominance in the sport.
Golf icon Tiger Woods still captures imaginations whenever he plays, as seen during his 2024 British Open appearance, where even long odds didn’t deter fans. In Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton is sitting as the 4th most-bet driver to win the Championship, while Max Verstappen tops the same list, further proof both men are at the heart of the title conversation.
In the NFL, Lamar Jackson has surged to favorite for MVP, whilst and in the NHL, Connor McDavid continues to show why he’s considered one of hockey’s greats.
Part of the beauty of sport is that you never know what’s coming next. Is your favorite athlete already a GOAT, or still climbing toward legendary status? Either way, their story is still being written. Whatever the case, you can follow their progress and bet on all the latest games in our sportsbook.
Methodology
This study ranks sporting legends to determine the true GOAT — the Greatest of All Time. Each athlete was evaluated across several key factors. These factors were then normalized on a scale from 0 to 1 to ensure fair comparison – where data was unavailable, a score of 0 was assigned.
The normalized scores were then summed to produce a total score for each athlete, which determined their final ranking.
The factors considered in this study were as follows:
- Career win rate – the percentage of wins the sports star had in their career.
- Positive social media sentiment – the percentage of all social media posts about the sports star which are positive, as recorded on brandwatch.com/
- Negative social media sentiment – the percentage of all social media posts about the sports star which are negative, as recorded on brandwatch.com/
- Net worth – the sports star’s net worth, as recorded on celebritynetworth.com/
- Wikipedia page views – the total number of Wikipedia page views the sports star had in the past year, as recorded on pageviews.wmcloud.org/?project=en.wikipedia.org/
- Instagram followers – the number of Instagram followers each sports star has, as recorded on blastup.com/instagram-followser-count/
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