Lionel Messi ranks above Cristiano Ronaldo with Lewis Hamilton highest Brit as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fail to make elite list
Lionel Messi ranked above Cristiano Ronaldo in a poll to determine the best 21st century athlete.
The Argentina captain may be revered all over the world for his wizardry but he missed out on top spot despite being the highest placed footballer on the list.
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The poll, conducted by US-based outlet , garnered more than 70,000 votes as its audience ranked their favourites based on their heroics since 2000.
Sadly for British sport, just one athlete made the cut while 56 American stars ranked within the top 100.
Basketball was the big winner with 24 names placed on the list. Baseball saw 17 entrants with soccer boasting 15.
Football fans will be surprised by Messi’s placing after securing his second Copa America title in July and his staggering impact on US sport since arriving at Inter Miami a year ago.
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However, two star names from the world of sport pipped the 37-year-old to the post with tennis star Serena Williams taking second place and Michael Phelps reigning supreme.
Williams dominated the women’s game, winning a staggering 23 Grand Slam titles during her glittering career.
Swimming legend Phelps, won a record 28 Olympic medals with 23 of them gold, over five different games.
Messi finished ten places ahead of long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo who came 13th with NBA legend LeBron James (fourth), Tom Brady (fifth) and Tiger Woods (eighth) all ranking above the Portuguese.
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Ronaldo’s placing will not sit well with his millions of devoted fans who claim the star is the greatest player of all time.
The only British athlete to be named in the top 100 is Lewis Hamilton, whose joint-record seven Formula One titles placed him in 19th.
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There was no such luck for former world heavyweight boxing champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua who were were unable to make the list.
The next highest-placing footballer was Brazil women’s star Marta (32nd) who claimed the World Player of the Year award on six occasions.
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She ranked ahead of players such as Thierry Henry (48th), Zinedine Zidane (50th) and Kylian Mbappe (65th).
The top 25 athletes since 2000 as voted for by ESPN readers
1) Michael Phelps
2) Serena Williams
3) Lionel Messi
4) LeBron James
5) Tom Brady
6) Roger Federer
7) Simone Biles
8) Tiger Woods
9) Usain Bolt
10) Kobe Bryant
11) Novak Djokovic
12) Rafael Nadal
13) Cristiano Ronaldo
14) Steph Curry
15) Katie Ledecky
16) Tim Duncan
17) Shaquille O'Neal
18) Patrick Mahomes
19) Lewis Hamilton
20) Aaron Donald
21) Diana Taurasi
22) Sidney Crosby
23) Kevin Garnett
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24) Albert Pujols
25) Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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