In every sport there are good athletes—those that know how to play their respective game well and earn their team wins. However, in addition to those good performers there are great ones, or even the best ones. These are the movers and shakers who truly excel at their craft, whether it be baseball, football, tennis, or some other athletic profession. Some popular examples from decades past are Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, and Roger Clemens. In 2021, there are also a fair share of mega-talented superstars disrupting the sports scene. In this article we take a look at some of the biggest names in the business today.
NBA — Kevin Durant
While Lebron James is undoubtedly one of the greatest basketball athletes of this generation, Brookyln Nets power forward Kevin Durant is the NBA’s most dominant scorer, with just a quick look at his stats proving this fact a thousand times over. While James suffered from reoccurring injuries this past season, Durant led the Nets all the way to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and had the game of his life, scoring a record-breaking 48 points or the most in a Game 7 in playoff history.
Tom Brady has the most Super Bowl rings in NFL history, and has earned a total of seven Vince Lombardi trophies (pictured here) across two different franchises
NFL — Tom Brady
It’s impossible to talk about today’s most impressive sports figures without drawing attention to the one and only Tom Brady. American football has arguably never seen a more successful quarterback, with Number 12 attaining the most Super Bowl rings of all time after winning last year’s Championship game during the first year with his new franchise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s safe to say Brady’s football knowledge, ball control, and arm strength are unmatchable. As a brand-new season of matchups kick off this September, the Bucs are positioned as top favorites to take the NFC and even another Super Bowl title according to NFL betting odds by expert pundits. If the league’s ‘GOAT’ can secure an eighth ring, his legacy will be even stronger for generations to come.
Football — Cristiano Ronaldo
American football isn’t the only sport where major athletic elitism is visible in a big way. While long-time Barcelona FC icon Lionel Messi is among the most naturally talented footballers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably a better scorer than Messi, having scored more goals (785) throughout his career than his Argentinian counterpart (784). While the two definitely have different playing styles that make them equally incredible in their own right, Ronaldo has been at the top of his game, nationally and internationally, for over two decades.
Tennis — Serena Williams
On the female tennis stage, there is no one better than Serena Williams. Each of her wins further cement her standing as the world’s greatest and most powerful. With a swing that has won her a whopping 73 titles and 23 Grand Slam tournaments (second only to Margaret Court), Williams continue to strut her dominance in 2021 even at 39 years old. The face of U.S. woman’s tennis, this champion is not going anywhere anytime soon.
When it comes to the best female tennis players to ever play the game, Serena Williams is at the top of the list
MLB — Mookie Betts
Professional baseball has seen a large variety of mega-talented athletes come through the league over the years, from Babe Ruth to Loui Gehrig, Barry Bonds, and many more. Nowadays it is Los Angeles Dodgers second base player and outfielder, Mookie Betts. Number 50’s statistics alone prove his sheer talent, as Betts became the first player in MLB history to achieve multiple titles like World Series champion, MVP, Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove together in the same season. He was extremely influential in bringing the Dodgers their 7th Series victory, scoring a homer and a double and finishing the postseason with a miraculous .296 batting average. With the Dodgers going for another Championship in 2021, it’s already clear to see that Betts will be a huge asset yet again.
And as for fans who are gearing up for the playoffs with a Dodgers-inspired fantasy team, check out this list of creative baseball team names that have been categorized to suit different audiences and players.