Here is my meta-list of the Best Athletes of ‘all time’, which means in this case, from the end of the 19th Century to the present.  I collected several lists of best athletes overall, regardless of sport, but because I found only a few such lists, I expanded the search to include sport-specific “Best Athletes” lists.  I tried to include an equal number of lists per major sport to avoid tipping the balance in favor of some sports and away from others.   The results are relatively diverse, with many different sports and countries represented, although the majority of athletes on the list are from the U.S.  The results are below.  The numbers in bold indicate the number of original “Best Athletes” lists the individual was on. Athletes who are on the same number of lists are listed in order of their dates of birth.  I have included photos of most of the athletes (I ran out of steam toward the end, but I may finish eventually.)  I have tried to find photos of the athletes engaged in the act of playing their sport, while trying to avoid staged or posed shots. (For more information, see Note on Photos, below.)  For a ‘Best Athletes’ list organized by sport, but without photos, go here.

17 “Best Athletes” Lists
Michael Jordan (US, 1963- ) – Basketball, Baseball

Kirthmon Dozier/Associated Press

16 Lists
Babe Didrikson Zaharias (US, 1911-1956) – Golf, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Field, Diving

15
Jim Thorpe (US, 1888-1953) – Football, Baseball, Track & Field
Associated Press, IOC/Getty Images

Babe Ruth (US, 1895-1948) – Baseball

Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images

Jim Brown (US, 1936- ) – Football

Associated Press 

Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) (Brazil, 1940- ) – Soccer

Muhammad Ali (US, 1942- ) – Boxing

Associated Press.

Martina Navratilova (Czechoslovakia, 1956- ) – Tennis
Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated

Carl Lewis (US, 1961- ) – Track & Field

Wayne Gretzky (Canada, 1961- ) – Ice Hockey

ESPN

14
Wilt Chamberlain (US, 1936-1999) – Basketball

NBA Photos/NBAE/Getty Images

13
Jackie Robinson (US, 1919-1972) – Baseball

Associated Press

Jackie Joyner-Kersee (US, 1962- ) – Track & Field

Getty Images

Tiger Woods (US, 1975- ) – Golf

Getty Images

Roger Federer (Switzerland, 1981- ) – Tennis

AAP/Dave Hunt

12
Jesse Owens (US, 1913-1980) – Track & Field

AP Photo

Jack Nicklaus (US, 1940- ) – Golf

AP Photo

Joe Montana (US, 1956- ) – Football

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Jerry Rice (US, 1962- ) – Football

Getty Images

Bo Jackson (US, 1962- ) – Baseball, Football

Lonnie Major/Getty Images

11
Willie Mays (US, 1931- ) – Baseball

Loomis Dean/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

Michael Phelps (US, 1985- ) – Swimming


10
Joe Louis (US, 1914-1981) – Boxing

Costa/News

Ted Williams (US, 1918-2002) – Baseball

AP/Ted Sande

Bill Russell (US, 1934- ) – Basketball

Getty Images

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (US, 1947- ) – Basketball

AP Photo/Reed Saxon

Chris Evert (US, 1954- ) – Tennis

Larry Bird (US, 1956- ) – Basketball

George Long/WireImage

Earvin “Magic” Johnson (US, 1959- ) – Basketball

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

9
Ty Cobb (US, 1886-1961) – Baseball

Sporting News

Lou Gehrig (US, 1903-1941) – Baseball

Charles Conlon/Sporting News

Joe DiMaggio (US, 1914-1999) – Baseball

Reuters

Sugar Ray Robinson (US, 1921-1989) – Boxing

PA Photos /Landov

Billie Jean King (US, 1943- ) – Tennis

AP Photo/Elise Amendola

Bobby Orr (Canada, 1948- ) – Hockey

Montreal Gazette/Montreal Star

Mark Spitz (US, 1950- ) – Swimming

Rich Clarkson/WireImage.com

Walter Payton (US, 1954-1999) – Football

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Steffi Graf (Germany, 1969- ) – Tennis

Chris Eason

8
Paavo Nurmi (Finland, 1897-1973) – Track & Field

Gordie Howe (Canada, 1928- ) – Ice Hockey

Denis Brodeur/Getty Images

Hank Aaron (US, 1934- ) – Baseball

AP Photo

Diego Maradona (Argentina, 1960- ) – Soccer

Nadia Comaneci (Romania, 1961- ) – Gymnastics

AP Photo

Michael Johnson (US, 1967- ) – Track & Field

Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Lance Armstrong (US, 1971- ) – Cycling

Getty Images

Usain Bolt (Jamaica, 1986- ) – Track & Field

7
Mickey Mantle (US, 1931-1995) – Baseball

Daily News

Sandy Koufax (US, 1935- ) – Baseball


Oscar Robertson (US, 1938- ) – Basketball

AP Photo

Rod Laver (Australia, 1938- ) – Tennis

AP Photo

Lawrence Taylor (US, 1959- ) – Football

Stephen Dunn/Allsport

Deion Sanders (US, 1967- ) – Football, Baseball

Randy Pench, Associated Press

Barry Sanders (US, 1968- ) – Football

AP Photo/Duane Burleson

Pete Sampras (US, 1971- ) – Tennis

Serena Williams (US, 1981- ) – Tennis

celebritynetworth.com

6
Cy Young (US, 1867-1955) – Baseball

Public Domain

Rocky Marciano (US, 1923-1969) – Boxing

Herb Scharfman /UPI

Bruce Lee (US/Hong Kong, 1940-1973) – Martial Arts

From The Big Boss (1971), directed by Wei Lo and Chia-Hsiang Wu

Wilma Rudolph (US, 1940-1994) – Track & Field

Getty Images

Edwin Moses (US, 1955- ) – Track & Field

AP Photo

Cheryl Miller (US, 1964- ) – Basketball

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Mario Lemieux (Canada, 1965- ) – Ice Hockey

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

Annika Sörenstam (Sweden, 1970- ) – Golf

Travis Lindquist/Getty Images

Mia Hamm (US, 1972- ) – Soccer

Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia, 1973- ) – Track & Field

Wikipedia Commons

Ronaldo (Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima) (Brazil, 1976- ) – Soccer

PA

LeBron James (US, 1984- ) – Basketball

USATSI

Rafael Nadal (Spain, 1986- ) – Tennis

ESP

Lionel Messi (Argentina, 1987- ) – Soccer

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

5
Bobby Jones (US, 1902-1971) – Golf

Arnold Palmer (US, 1929- ) – Golf

Walter Iooss, Jr./SI

Johnny Unitas (US, 1933-2002) – Football

http://sports-kings.com

Pete Rose (US, 1941- ) – Baseball

AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy

Dick Butkus (US, 1942- ) – Football

Jean-Claude Killy (France, 1943- ) – Alpine Skiing


Eddy Merckx (Belgium, 1945- ) – Cycling

George Best (Northern Ireland, 1946-2005) – Soccer

Irish Star/Irish Daily Star

Julius Erving (US, 1950- ) – Basketball

Jimmy Connors (US, 1952- ) – Tennis

Björn Borg (Sweden, 1956- ) – Tennis

Walter Iooss, Jr.

Sergey Bubka (USSR/Ukraine, 1963- ) – Track & Field

Bonnie Blair (US, 1964- ) – Speedskating

Tom Lynn /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

Mike Tyson (US, 1966- ) – Boxing

Michael Schumacher (Germany, 1969- ) – Auto Racing

Zinedine Zidane (France, 1972- ) – Soccer

Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco, 1974- ) – Track & Field


Tom Brady (US, 1977- ) – Football

Ian Thorpe (Australia, 1982- ) – Swimming

Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

4
Honus Wagner (US, 1874-1955) – Baseball

http://www.thesportsfanjournal.com

Jack Johnson (US, 1878-1946) – Boxing

Walter Johnson (US, 1887-1946) – Baseball

Sports Illustrated

Jack Dempsey (US, 1895-1983) – Boxing

Rogers Horsby (US, 1896-1963) – Baseball

AP Wirephoto

Harold “Red” Grange (US, 1903-1991) – Football

Donald Bradman (Australia, 1908-2001) – Cricket


Ben Hogan (US, 1912-1997) –  Golf

AP Photo/stf

Henry Armstrong (US, 1912-1988) – Boxing

Don Hutson (US, 1913-1997) – Football

AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Stan Musial (US, 1920-2013) – Baseball


Maurice Richard (Canada, 1921-2000) – Ice Hockey


Althea Gibson (US, 1927-2003) – Tennis, Golf

Keystone

Roger Bannister (UK, 1929- ) – Track & Field

Getty Images

Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico, 1934-1972) – Baseball

Walter Iooss, Jr.

Rafer Johnson (US, 1935- ) – Track & Field


Al Oerter (US, 1936-2007) – Track & Field

Dawn Fraser (Australia, 1937- ) – Swimming


Jerry West (US, 1938- ) – Basketball

George Long/Getty Images

Bobby Hull (Canada, 1939- ) – Ice Hockey

Chicago Tribune

Kathy Whitworth (US, 1939- ) – Golf


Johan Cruyff (Netherlands, 1947- ) – Soccer

Dan Gable (US, 1948- ) – Wrestling


Eric Heiden (US, 1958- ) – Speedskating, Cycling


Steve Redgrave (UK, 1962- ) – Rowing


Cynthia Cooper (US, 1963- ) – Basketball

Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images

Janet Evans (US, 1971- ) – Swimming

Lisa Leslie (US, 1972- ) – Basketball


Paula Radcliffe (UK, 1973- ) – Track & Field


Monica Seles (Yugoslavia/Serbia, 1973- ) – Tennis


Sachin Tendulkar (India, 1973- ) – Cricket

David Beckham (UK, 1975- ) – Soccer


Peyton Manning (US, 1976- ) – Football


Kobe Bryant (US, 1978- ) – Basketball


Venus Williams (US, 1980- ) – Tennis


Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis Moreira) (Brazil, 1980- ) – Soccer

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, 1985- ) – Soccer

3
Satchel Paige (US, 1906-1982) – Baseball

AP Photo/Matty Zimmerman

Josh Gibson (US, 1911-1947) – Baseball

© Bettmann/CORBIS

Sonja Henie (Norway, 1912-1969) – Figure Skating


Fanny Blankers-Koen (The Netherlands, 1918-2004) – Track & Field

Emil Zátopek (Czechoslovakia, 1922-2000) – Track & Field

Getty Images

Bob Mathias (US, 1930-2006) – Track & Field


Willie Shoemaker (US, 1931-2003) – Horse Racing

John Swart/AP Photo

Elgin Baylor (US, 1934- ) – Basketball

Getty Images

Bob Gibson (US, 1935- ) – Baseball

Richard Petty (US, 1937- ) – Auto Racing

Margaret Court (Australia, 1942- ) – Tennis

AFP/Getty Images

Bob Beamon (US, 1946- ) – Track & Field


O.J. Simpson (US, 1947- ) – Football

Peggy Fleming (US, 1948- ) – Figure Skating


Dale Earnhardt, Sr. (US, 1951-2001) – Auto Racing

Donald Miralle /Allsport

John McEnroe (US, 1959- ) – Tennis

Greg Louganis (US, 1960- ) – Diving


John Elway (US, 1960- ) – Football


Dan Marino (US, 1961- ) – Football


Mary T. Meagher (US, 1964- ) – Swimming


Michelle Akers (US, 1966- ) – Soccer


Alexander Karelin (Russia, 1967- ) – Wrestling

© Lars Nyberg

Tony Hawk (US, 1968- ) – Skateboarding


Shane Warne (Australia, 1969- ) – Cricket


Brian Lara (Trinidad & Tobago, 1969- ) – Cricket


Sheryl Swoopes (US, 1971- ) – Basketball


Kelly Slater (US, 1972- ) – Surfing

Bernard Rabejac-Quiksilver

Tegla Laroupe (Kenya, 1973- ) – Track & Field

(c) Agentur Diener/Rudolf Schmied

Alex Rodriguez (US, 1975- ) – Baseball


Manny Pacquiao (The Philippines, 1978- ) – Boxing

2
Bill Tilden (US, 1893-1953) – Tennis
Sammy Baugh (US, 1914-2008) – Football
Don Budge (US, 1915-2000) – Tennis
Eddie Arcaro (US, 1916-1997) – Horse Racing
Otto Graham (US, 1921-2003) – Football
George Blanda (US, 1927-2010) – Football
Maureen Connolly (US, 1934-1969) – Tennis
Larissa Latynina (USSR/Ukraine, 1934- ) – Gymnastics
A.J. Foyt (US, 1935) – Auto Racing
Garfield Sobers (Barbados, 1936- ) – Cricket
Sadaharu Oh (Japan, 1940- ) – Baseball
Gale Sayers (US, 1943- ) – Football
Dave Winfield (US, 1951- ) – Baseball
Viv Richards (Antigua & Barbuda, 1952- ) – Cricket
Grete Waitz (Norway, 1953-2011) – Track & Field
Ann Meyers (US, 1955- ) – Basketball
Ian Botham (UK, 1955- ) – Cricket
Sebastian Coe (UK, 1956- ) – Track & Field
Joan Benoit Samuelson (US, 1957- ) – Track & Field
Mary Decker Slaney (US, 1958- ) – Track & Field
Serge Blanco (Venezuela, 1958- ) – Rugby
Daley Thompson (UK, 1958- ) – Track & Field
Ayrton Senna (Brazil, 1960-1994) – Auto Racing
David Campese (Australia, 1962- ) – Rugby
Tracy Caulkins (US, 1963- ) – Swimming
Teresa Edwards (US, 1964- ) – Basketball
Laird Hamilton (US, 1964- ) – Surfing
Mary Lou Retton (US, 1968- ) – Gymnastics
Emmitt Smith (US, 1969- ) – Football
Lisa Fernandez (US, 1971- ) – Softball
Picabo Street (US, 1971- ) – Alpine Skiing
Manon Rhéaume (Canada, 1972- ) – Ice Hockey
Roman Šebrle (Czech Republic, 1974- ) – Track & Field
Derek Jeter (US, 1974- ) – Baseball
Marion Jones (US, 1975- ) – Track & Field
Anderson Silva (Brazil, 1975- ) – Mixed Martial Arts
Alexei Nemov (Russia, 1976- ) – Gymnastics
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US, 1977- ) – Boxing
Cael Sanderson (US, 1979- ) – Wrestling
Valentino Rossi (Italy, 1979- ) – Motorcycle Racing
Michael Vick (US, 1980- ) – Football
Shaun White (US, 1986- ) – Snowboarding, Skateboarding
Sidney Crosby (Canada, 1987- ) – Ice Hockey
Maria Sharapova (Russia, 1987- ) – Tennis

Note about the photos:  I think we all agree that lists are more interesting when they include some visuals.  To that end, I have tried to obtain public domain photos for the athletes, but because I think action shots say ‘athlete’ much more than posed publicity head shots, many of the photos I have found are copyrighted.  I have included the source and photographer’s name, if available, for each copyrighted photo.  I believe that my use of these photographs is permissible under the doctrine of fair use and for educational purposes, so I have not undertaking the time-consuming process of asking for permissions from each copyright owner.  Furthermore, my use of these photos is strictly non-commercial.  If you own the copyright to one or more of the photos and have any concerns about their use on this site, please contact me directly by leaving a comment.  If you believe I need permission to use the photo, I hereby request permission.