Influence is a tricky word, isn’t it? It stretches beyond the gold medals and career stats—it lingers in the way someone makes you feel, how they shift the culture, how they step into history and shake its foundations a little. Or a lot.
This isn’t just a list. It’s a conversation between the past and the present—between raw talent and lasting legacy. These athletes didn’t just change their sport—they altered the world’s pulse. Some sparked revolutions. Others, well, they just made us believe in something bigger than ourselves.
The criteria? Not scientific—but meaningful. Legacy. Cultural impact. Achievements, sure. But also, those strange, unspoken intangibles that sit in your gut and say, “Yeah. That one mattered.”
Let’s jump in.
1. Michael Jordan (Basketball)
Sometimes you don’t need a stat line—you need a silhouette. The Jumpman logo is more than branding; it’s a symbol.
- 6× NBA champion (but you knew that already)
- 5 MVPs
- He made basketball feel like jazz—rhythmic, relentless, and occasionally magical
- Oh, and Space Jam. C’mon.
I remember watching his final shot in Utah—Game 6, 1998—and it felt like watching the sun set on your childhood.
2. Muhammad Ali (Boxing)
He floated. He stung. But he also stood.
Ali’s fists spoke loudly—but his silence during the Vietnam draft spoke louder.
- 3-time heavyweight champ
- Refused the draft in ‘67. Lost his title. Gained immortality.
- Civil rights advocate before it was safe to be one
People feared him. Admired him. Hated him. Worshipped him. He was America’s mirror—cracked, glorious, painful.
3. Serena Williams (Tennis)
Power. Grit. Control. And sometimes anger.
She played like thunder—unapologetically loud, brilliant, and impossible to ignore.
- 23 Grand Slam singles titles
- Redefined strength and femininity in one go
- Faced racism, sexism—still dominated. Repeatedly.
Ever seen her serve? It’s like a cannon with precision. Goosebumps. Every time.
4. Tiger Woods (Golf)
Golf was quiet. Buttoned-up. Pale. Then came Tiger.
And suddenly, kids in baggy jeans wanted to swing a 9-iron.
- 15 majors
- Changed TV ratings overnight
- That 2019 Masters comeback? My dad cried. I cried. We all cried.
Tiger isn’t just a golfer. He’s a movement.
5. Usain Bolt (Track & Field)
Bolt didn’t run—he exploded. The man turned physics into poetry.
- 8 Olympic golds
- 9.58 seconds (100m world record that feels supernatural)
- Smiled before he crossed the finish line
He made running look easy. It’s not. Trust me, I’ve tried.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer)
A machine wrapped in muscle, dipped in cologne, and sprinkled with global stardom.
- 5 Ballon d’Ors
- Over 850 career goals
- Instagram’s most-followed human (he’s a platform, not a person)
Say what you will about ego, but CR7’s work ethic is borderline psychotic—in a good way.
7. Lionel Messi (Soccer)
Messi is what happens when God decides to draw curves on grass.
- 8 Ballon d’Ors (still hard to believe)
- 2022 World Cup—finally.
- Dribbles like he’s tiptoeing through time
Quiet genius. Unlike Ronaldo, Messi doesn’t demand attention—he earns it in whispers.
8. Roger Federer (Tennis)
If tennis were ballet, Federer would be Baryshnikov—with a better backhand.
- 20 Grand Slams
- Style and grace, yes—but also steel
- Global ambassador, even after retirement
I once saw him play live. It felt like watching time pause, mid-serve.
9. Pele (Soccer)
Before Messi, before CR7—there was The King.
- 3 World Cups
- Over 1,200 goals (yeah, that’s not a typo)
- He turned a game into religion in Brazil
He didn’t just play soccer. He baptized it.
10. Babe Ruth (Baseball)
Big man. Bigger swing.
- 714 home runs
- Made baseball the American pastime
- Once called his shot—and then hit it. Wild.
Imagine showing up to a game with hot dogs, beer, and Babe promising fireworks. That’s influence.
11. Jackie Robinson (Baseball)
Courage under cleats.
- First Black player in MLB (1947)
- Rookie of the Year, MVP
- Got hate mail, threats, worse—and still hit .342
More than a ballplayer. He was a breaker of walls. A quiet revolutionary.
12. Billie Jean King (Tennis)
One match changed history. One woman made it happen.
- 39 Grand Slam titles
- Beat Bobby Riggs in 1973 (The Battle of the Sexes)
- Helped launch the WTA
Billie Jean didn’t just break the glass ceiling—she served through it.
13. Tom Brady (Football)
Drafted 199th. Became #1.
- 7 Super Bowls
- Defied age like it was a personal insult
- Still eats avocado ice cream (allegedly)
He made winning boring—and yet, completely addictive to watch.
14. Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Swimming never looked so intense—until Phelps entered the pool.
- 23 Olympic golds
- 39 world records
- Advocates mental health now, which feels more heroic
Watching him swim felt like watching evolution in real-time.
15. Martina Navratilova (Tennis)
Relentless. Tactical. Courageous.
- 59 total Grand Slam titles
- Came out in the ’80s—back when it was risky
- Advocated for LGBTQ+ athletes long before it was mainstream
She didn’t just play tennis. She lived defiance.
16. Diego Maradona (Soccer)
Madness and magic in cleats.
- 1986 World Cup—Hand of God, Goal of the Century
- Flawed but unforgettable
- Revered like a saint in Naples and Buenos Aires
His genius burned too bright—and too fast.
17. LeBron James (Basketball)
Kid from Akron. Now a billionaire icon.
- 4 NBA championships
- Built schools, spoke truth, carried teams
- Played 20+ years at elite level—and still going (as of 2025!)
More than an athlete? Yeah. But also… one hell of an athlete.
18. Bo Jackson (Multi-Sport)
If comic books were real—Bo would be on the cover.
- MLB All-Star and NFL Pro Bowler
- Marketing phenom (“Bo Knows” still slaps)
- Injury ended it too soon. But legend lives on.
He ran like a train. Hit like a storm. Moved like lightning. Unfair, really.
19. Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
Tiny frame. Massive courage.
- 7 Olympic medals
- 25 World Championship medals
- Walked away from competition for mental health—and rewrote the meaning of winning
Her flips bend physics. Her decisions? They bend the rules of bravery.
20. Jim Thorpe (Multi-Sport)
Raw talent. Wild heart.
- Olympic golds in 1912
- Played pro football, baseball, basketball
- Faced racism his entire life—and still soared
When you talk about “natural athletes,” you start with Thorpe and work your way down.
Conclusion
So—what does it mean to be influential? Is it the stats? The noise? The moments frozen in time like posters in our childhood bedrooms?
Maybe it’s all of it. Or maybe it’s how these people made us feel. Hopeful. Angry. Inspired. Alive.
Who’d we miss? Who has to be on your list?
Drop it in the comments or yell at us on social media—whatever works.
