Lionel Messi has been named the best athlete of the 21st century. The ranking came from Le Journal de Quebec, and it dropped in December 2025. It didn’t tiptoe around the big names either.
The 38-year-old Argentinian soccer icon finished ahead of American football legend Tom Brady and his long-time football rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The list covered the first 25 years of this century and pulled from every major sport.
The Inter Miami captain's 2022 World Cup win with Argentina flipped the final switch on a legendary career. It erased the last debate point critics loved to bring up. After that, everything else felt like a bonus.
Then came Inter Miami. Messi led the club to its first championship in December 2025 and stacked MVP awards along the way. That move showed range, influence, and star power that crossed borders.
Leo / IG / Lionel Messi has been named the greatest athlete of the 21st century in a ranking published by Le Journal de Quebec, placing him above American football icon Tom Brady and his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Eight Ballon d’Ors highlight the football GOAT’s dominance. He owned La Liga, led Barcelona to continental triumph, and kept performing at an elite level long past his prime. Fans didn’t just watch him win—they watched him control the flow of the game with creativity and ease. That artistry mattered when voters decided.
Brady’s Greatness Was Ruthless and Relentless
Brady’s second-place finish says volumes about the competition. Seven Super Bowl rings still feel almost unreal. No franchise has matched that mark. He didn’t dazzle—he methodically overpowered opponents.
His career stretched across three decades, with titles in each. By the time he retired, the record books reflected his dominance: yards, touchdowns, wins. From sixth-round draft pick to the blueprint of professional leadership, he redefined longevity and consistency.
However, what likely held Brady back from the top spot was reach. American football is massive, but it isn’t global in the way football is. Brady owned his sport. Messi owned the world’s game. That difference mattered in a list built on global impact.
Ronaldo Lands Tenth but the Rivalry Lives On
Cristiano Ronaldo at number ten raised eyebrows fast. On paper, his case is iron-strong. Five Ballon d’Or wins. The most Champions League goals ever. The most goals in international football. Longevity that refuses to slow down.
CR7’s edge has always been power, discipline, and relentless scoring. He conquered England, Spain, and Italy. He showed up at five World Cups and scored in all of them. Very few athletes in any sport can match that resume.
So why tenth? The ranking leaned toward peak moments and artistic control of the game. Messi’s World Cup win and his playmaking style likely tipped the scales.
How the Ranking Was Really Judged?
Leo / IG / The list compared athletes across sports that barely resemble each other. Football, basketball, tennis, swimming, gymnastics, all in one room.
The panel seemed to value three things. Sustained excellence, global reach, and defining moments. Messi hit all three at once. Brady nailed two. Ronaldo did too, but shared his era with Messi, which changed the math.
Football’s worldwide pull mattered. So did narrative. Messi’s career arc, from prodigy to champion to global ambassador, felt complete. That story likely propelled him ahead in a ranking designed to capture the essence of the century, not just the statistics.
The Rest of the Top Ten Shows the Era’s Depth
Michael Phelps finished third with 28 Olympic medals. That number still feels unreal. Serena Williams came next, followed by Usain Bolt, LeBron James, Novak Djokovic, Simone Biles, and Kobe Bryant. Every one of them reshaped their sport.
However, CRS, rounding out the top ten, didn’t diminish his legacy. It showed how crowded greatness has been since 2000.