ESPN Ranks 100 Most Famous Athletes In The World

[TMF]

ESPN World Fame 100​

ESPN released its third annual ranking of the biggest names in sports. Of the top 100 athletes, 12 professional tennis players made the list.

#5 Roger Federer
#8 Rafael Nadal
#12 Serena Williams
#13 Novak Djokovic
#21 Maria Sharapova
#48 Venus Williams
#56 Andy Murray(not Andy Roddick)
#66 Caroline Wozniacki
#76 Stan Wawrinka
#77 Simona Halep
#98 Victoria Azarenka
#100 Sania Mirza

 

[Deleted member 756486]

American bias prevails again, there’s no way LeBron James is more well known world wide than Messi and Neymar but whatever.

Cool to see Fedr high on the list.

 

[Tennisanity]

So Federer ahead of Nadal despite having fewer teen girl followers on facebook/twitter?

 

[Steve0904]

Oh great, another famous ESPN list. Good thread though.

Just looked at the whole list. Durant ahead of Nadal, and Curry at #9. LMFAO!!!

 

[Plamen1234]

Neymar more popular than Federer - doubt it.Ronaldo and Messi are more popular than Federer for sure.After all football is more popular than tennis but I disagree with Neymar as being on 4th place though.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[TMF]

American bias prevails again, there’s no way LeBron James is more well known world wide than Messi and Neymar but whatever.

Cool to see Fedr high on the list.

ESPN didn't put Serena above Federer and Nadal.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

ESPN didn't put Serena above Federer and Nadal.

Yeah true but I’m talking about the bias of being anti-football (soccer) yes Ronaldo is #1 but let’s be honest the top 3 should be Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar but they put LeBron at #2.

They even show Messi and Neymar having a higher search score and social following than LeBron so where’s the logic in LeBron being higher?? Just bias.

Anyway, congrats to Fedr and Nadl, legends.

 

[True Fanerer]

Why is Andy Roddick on the list?

 

[junior74]

3 fluke slam journeyman Stanley Waronka on the list but Mury Goat not?

The end is near

 

[Plamen1234]

Now I noticed that Murray is not there which is strange.I mean Stan is there so why not Murray.I dont think Stan is more famous than Murray.And Roddick is there also - doubt he is more famous than Murray either

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Now I noticed that Murray is not there which is strange.I mean Stan is there so why not Murray.I dont think Stan is more famous than Murray.And Roddick is there also - doubt he is more famous than Murray either

ESPN should cease to exist for not putting Mury GOAT on the list.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Why is Andy Roddick on the list?

 

[Deleted member 757377]

No one gives a f about golfers, except a bunch of billionaires.

Why is Andy Roddick on the list?

It's Murray.

 

[Phoenix1983]

1. Andy Roddick is not a current player, he should not appear on the list
2. James should be in the lower end of the top 10
3. Messi and Ronaldo (in whichever order) are the undoubted top 2
4. Durant and Curry shouldn't be in the top 10. I don't really know who they are - and by extension, most non-US fans won't
5. Novak Djokovic shouldn't be ahead of Sharapova (in fame, obviously he's more accomplished)

Agreed upon by all objective sports observers.

 

[True Fanerer]

No one gives a f about golfers, except a bunch of billionaires.


It's Murray.

Has to be.

 

[mike danny]

Why is Andy Roddick on the list?

You saw his press conferences

 

[TheAssassin]

Never in doubt.

 

[Fedforever]

there’s no way LeBron James is more well known world wide

I've heard of him but wouldn't know what sport he played.

 

[mike danny]

Mury GOAT not on the list?

I suppose he transcends such lists anyway putting him in one is redundant.

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Never in doubt.

This guy should be #1.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[Deleted member 756486]

I've heard of him but wouldn't know what sport he played.

Wow.

ESPN really dropped the ball with this list..

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Murray is #56

 

[TheAssassin]

This guy should be #1.

Pipe down man!

 

[Fedforever]

Wow.

ESPN really dropped the ball with this list..

I don't think most British people know much about American sports. You might know some of the team names from watching TV series and films but not individual players. Michael Jordan an exception to this I suppose.

It's one of those areas of TTW referencing and gifs that's a closed book to me, along with WWF and superheroes.

 

[True Fanerer]

You saw his press conferences

Not even retirement can stop Arod .

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Pipe down man!

 

[Deleted member 756486]

I don't think most British people know much about American sports. You might know some of the team names from watching TV series and films but not individual players. Michael Jordan an exception to this I suppose.

It's one of those areas of TTW referencing and gifs that's a closed book to me, along with WWF and superheroes.

Let me guess, you know Michael Jordan only because of Space Jam?

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Had to go all the way down to #38 to find a handegg player.

PROGRESS!

 

[Fedforever]

Let me guess, you know Michael Jordan only because of Space Jam?

Dunno, I think his name just got around.

Basketball seems a bit more of a universal sport than the others. I mean, American football, the clue's in the name really isn't it? Plus with all the hardware British people tend to think it's rugby for cissies.

 

[merwy]

Oh great, another famous ESPN list. Good thread though.

Just looked at the whole list. Durant ahead of Nadal, and Curry at #9. LMFAO!!!

I think I watch a lot of sports but I wouldn’t recognize Durant from a picture. Just know he’s a basketball player.

 

[TheAssassin]

Clearly photoshopped, shhhhh.

 

[clout]

LBJ shouldn't be ahead of Messi, Neymar or Fed. KD shouldn't be ahead of Nadal and LOL at Mickelson being ahead of Mayweather. And tbh Sharapova is likely more popular than Nole and even Serena if we're talking purely based off of how well known they are. Also, shouldn't Phelps and Bolt be on this list or are they retired already? I'm actually not sure tbh

 

[Mainad]

#56 Andy Murray(not Andy Roddick)

I think most of us know the difference by now.

 

[Mainad]

LBJ shouldn't be ahead of Messi, Neymar or Fed. KD shouldn't be ahead of Nadal and LOL at Mickelson being ahead of Mayweather. And tbh Sharapova is likely more popular than Nole and even Serena if we're talking purely based off of how well known they are. Also, shouldn't Phelps and Bolt be on this list or are they retired already? I'm actually not sure tbh

Lol at any golfer, including Tiger Woods, being ranked above real athletes like football and tennis stars. After all, what do golfers do but stroll about the lawn all day and occasionally take a swing at a tiny white ball?

 

[Mainad]

ESPN World Fame 100​

ESPN released its third annual ranking of the biggest names in sports. Of the top 100 athletes, 12 professional tennis players made the list.

#5 Roger Federer
#8 Rafael Nadal
#12 Serena Williams
#13 Novak Djokovic
#21 Maria Sharapova
#48 Venus Williams
#56 Andy Murray(not Andy Roddick)
#66 Caroline Wozniacki
#76 Stan Wawrinka
#77 Simona Halep
#98 Victoria Azarenka
#100 Sania Mirza

Evidently no male tennis player under the age of 30 is famous enough to make the list?

 

[Wander]

There are about 10 people in the top 30 I would not be able to recognize at all from a picture.

 

[clout]

Lol at any golfer, including Tiger Woods, being ranked above real athletes like football and tennis stars. After all, what do golfers do but stroll about the lawn all day and occasionally take a swing at a tiny white ball?

Well if we're talking purely off popularity then no one can deny that Tiger is indeed one of the most well known sports figures over the last 20 years. But I agree, if we're talking about "pure" athletes along with their INTERNATIONAL popularity, then yes football/soccer players will always come in first, followed by tennis and cricket players.

 

[TMF]

Evidently no tennis player under the age of 30 is famous enough to make the list?

Halep, Azarenka, Wozniacki are under 30.

 

[Mainad]

Halep, Azarenka, Wozniacki are under 30.

Should have said 'male'.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Halep, Azarenka, Wozniacki are under 30.

 

[clout]

Wow.

ESPN really dropped the ball with this list..

Tbh they've improved (very slightly) but they've improved. An extreme yet typical American bias list would've included an NFL player in the top 5 or 10 LOL

 

[Phoenix1983]

Tbh they've improved (very slightly) but they've improved. An extreme yet typical American bias list would've included an NFL player in the top 5 or 10 LOL

Their criteria even among American stars is a bit weird though.

IMHO Mayweather should be in the top 10 worldwide, whereas Curry and Durant shouldn't.

Also, it's weird that they're counting Mayweather as still active, but Bolt not. (I thought they had both retired)

 

[clout]

Which sport has the most players on the list? I'm guessing its either soccer or tennis

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Lol I don’t know what it is about Ronaldo but I kinda like him, he’s so arrogant but I can’t help but admire him in a way, maybe it’s because of how incredible he is and how much he’s contributed to charity.

Zverev should take notes.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Lol I don’t know what it is about Ronaldo but I kinda like him, he’s so arrogant but I can’t help but admire him in a way, maybe it’s because of how incredible he is and how much he’s contributed to charity.

Zverev should take notes.

That boy Ronaldo makes the rest of the espn 100 look ****e.

 

[AlexanderTheGreat08]

Neymar and Messi not ahead of Lebron? I have seen it all , Durant ahead of Nadal? Wtf

 

[Mainad]

Now I noticed that Murray is not there which is strange.I mean Stan is there so why not Murray.I dont think Stan is more famous than Murray.And Roddick is there also - doubt he is more famous than Murray either

ESPN should cease to exist for not putting Mury GOAT on the list.

Mury GOAT not on the list?

Look again. He comes in at #56!