While the likes of Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo and Serena Williams have rightfully been hailed among the best sports stars to ever grace the earth, there are a plethora of athletes who have never received the credit they deserve.
GiveMeSport thought it only right to pay homage to some of the most underrated athletes of this generation, and have devised a list brimming with exceptionally talented names.
In total, we’ve picked out 50 sportspeople and ranked them downwards, with the number one spot given to the most underappreciated athlete of them all.
How will the ranking work?
Our list contains athletes from almost every major sport and we’ve tried our best to devise a ranking with no bias.
All sports are weighted equally and there is no attempt to suggest that any athlete is more underrated simply because of the sport they play.
While we’ve sought to justify the position of every athlete on this list, it is worth noting that our ranking is purely subjective and you’re perfectly entitled to have a different opinion.
To be clear, we’re not defining ‘underrated’ as an athlete who wasn’t rated at all, but rather someone who was criminally underappreciated in accordance with their talent and success.
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Who are the most underrated athletes of all time?
- 50. Gilberto Silva - Football
Silva was overshadowed by Patrick Viera for much of his time at Arsenal but was still an integral member of Arsene Wenger’s ‘invincibles’ side.
A World Cup winner, with 93 caps for Brazil, Silva is no doubt one of the greatest midfielders to grace the Premier League.
- 49. Andy Murray - Tennis
Considered part of tennis’ ‘big four’, Murray has long been considered one of the best tennis players in the world.
Yet, some don’t appreciate quite how much he has achieved. With three Grand Slam victories, two Olympic gold medals and 46 career titles, imagine how much he’d have won in an era with no Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy following his victory in the Gentlemen's Singles Final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 7, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
- 48. Gennady Golovkin - Boxing
Golovkin has fought Canelo Alvarez on three occasions and has never come away victorious.
That being said, his record aside from this trilogy is faultless and he is a two-time unified middleweight champion.
- 47. Tyron Woodley - UFC
Forget that he lost to Jake Paul in boxing twice –– Woodley was one of the UFC’s best fighters in his prime and defended the welterweight title on four occasions.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 27: In this handout image provided by UFC, (R-L) Tyron Woodley punches Vicente Luque in their welterweight fight during the UFC 260 event at UFC APEX on March 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
- 46. Rubens Barrichello - F1
Barichello won 18 races during his F1 career and finished as the World Championship runner-up twice.
If he hadn’t been competing with Michael Schumacher, there’s no doubt he’d be an all time great.
- 45. Maggi Alphonsi - Rugby Union
Alphonsi won the World Cup with England in 2014 and was inducted into the Rugby Hall of Fame two years later.
Women’s rugby was not as widely promoted back then and Alphonsi is only now beginning to get the recognition she is owed.
- 44. James Wade - Darts
He may not be Phil Taylor or Michael van Gerwen, but Wade has won eleven PDC majors –– placing him third in the all time list.
- 43. Mark Cavendish - Cycling
Cavendish doesn’t have an Olympic gold or a Tour de France yellow jersey.
However, he is perhaps the greatest sprinter in the history of cycling and has 34 Tour de France stage victories.
VILLARS-LES-DOMBES PARC DES OISEAUX, FRANCE - JULY 16: Mark Cavendish of Great Britain riding for Team Dimension Data celebrates on the podium after winning stage fourteen, a 208.5km stage from Montélimar to Villars-les-Dombes Parc des Oiseaux at on July 16, 2016 in Montelimar, France. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
- 42. Mark Selby - Snooker
Selby may have been criticised for his slow play in the past, but he is still a four-time world champion and has nine Triple Crown titles.
- 41. Stefanie Taylor - Cricket
Having made her debut for the West Indies as a 17-year-old, Taylor has taken 250 international wickets and scored more than 8,000 runs –– making her one of the best all-rounders to grace the game.
- 40. Benji Marshall - Rugby League
Though Marshall had little success in rugby union, his flamboyant style and devastating sidesteps made him one of rugby league’s most loved players.
Check out his highlight reel if you need any more proof.
Video: Benji Marshall's best moments
- 39. Jamie Vardy - Football
Inspiring Leicester to the Premier League title, winning the Golden Boot and scoring more than 100 league goals are just some of Vardy’s achievements.
Given he only joined Leicester at the age of 25, his rise to the top is nothing short of remarkable.
- 38. Irene van Dyk - Netball
As the most capped international player of all time, van Dyk is almost single-handedly responsible for changing the way netball is played around the world.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 04: Irene van Dyk of New Zealand in action during the Constellation Cup match between the Australia Diamonds and the New Zealand Silver Ferns at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on October 4, 2013 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
- 37. Tim Hudson - Baseball
One of MLB’s most consistent pitchers, Hudson is a four-time All-Star and went 15 seasons in a row with a winning record between 1999 and 2014.
- 36. Mat Ryan - NFL
The final quarter of Super Bowl LI will haunt Ryan forever, but let’s not forget he was the league’s most valuable player in 2016 and has the eighth most passing yards of all time.
- 35. Michael Bisping - UFC
Bisping lost nine times during his MMA career but he is still a former UFC Middleweight Champion and was the first British fighter to ever compete in a UFC main event.
Ultimate Fighting Championship - UFC Fight Night 83 - O2 Arena, London, England - 27/2/16
Great Britain's Michael Bisping celebrates winning
Action Images via Reuters / Matthew Childs
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- 34. Stan Wawrinka - Tennis
Wawrinka is one of the few players to have challenged the ‘big four’ this millennium and won three Grand Slam titles in the space of three seasons between 2014 and 2016.
- 33. Joe Rokocoko - Rugby
Rokococko only played for New Zealand between 2003 and 2010, yet he racked up 46 tries – placing him joint second on the All Blacks’ all time list.
- 32. Caroline Graham Hansen - Football
Graham Hansen has regularly been snubbed of Ballon d’Or nominations, despite being one of Barcelona’s most important players and perhaps the world’s best dribbler.
TURIN, ITALY - MAY 21: Caroline Graham Hansen of Barcelona looks on during the UEFA Women's Champions League final match between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyon at Juventus Stadium on May 21, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
- 31. Olga Korbut - Gymnastics
It’s Nadia Comăneci who is widely credited with popularising gymnastics around the globe, yet Korbut’s influence cannot be understated.
Though she retired from the sport aged just 22, she won four Olympic gold medals, including three at the 1972 Munich Games.
- 30. Jonathan Trott - Cricket
Trott’s mental struggles cut short his international career, but he was one of England’s finest batsmen during his prime and was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2011.
- 29. Vitali Klitschko - Boxing
Vitali doesn’t always receive the same plaudits as his younger brother Wladimir. However, he was just as good a fighter –– suffering just two losses in his career and retiring as the WBC heavyweight champion in 2013.
Vitali Klitschko lands a punch on Corrie Sanders during the eighth round of their 12-round WBC heavyweight championship bout in Los Angeles, Saturday, April 24, 2004. Klitschko won by TKO in the eighth round. (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage)
- 28. Ron Francis - Ice Hockey
Francis played 23 seasons in the NHL and retired with the second most career assists, fifth most points and the third most games played.
- 27. Shunsuke Nakamura - Football
It’s still criminal that Nakamura never played in the Premier League.
Renowned for his outrageously good left-foot, the Japanese star remains one of Celtic’s best ever players –– even receiving a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2007.
- 26. Klay Thompson - Basketball
Steph Curry’s brilliance has often overshadowed Thompson, but the Golden State Warriors trophy cabinet would be a lot smaller without the shooting guard, who has been integral in all four of the Warriors’ NBA championships since 2015.
- 25. Naomi Osaka - Tennis
Osaka has struggled for form in the past couple of years but remains a four-time Grand Slam champion and former number one.
The Japanese star is still only 24 and has plenty of time to add to her major honours.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 30: Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts during the second set against Danielle Collins of the United States in their Women's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 30, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
- 24. Jason Kenny - Cycling
Kenny is the holder of the most Olympic gold medals for a British athlete and his wife, Laura, holds the same record on the female side.
- 23. Juan Martin Del Potro - Tennis
Del Potro was the first player to ever beat Federer and Nadal at the same major – the 2009 US Open – and would surely have won more Grand Slams, had it not been for injuries.
- 22. Allyson Felix - Athletics
Quite simply the greatest female track and field star in history. Felix may already be highly rated, but given all her success, she is no doubt one of the greatest athletes of all time.
- 21. Thomas Muller- Football
Muller is by no means the flashiest of footballers, yet there’s no denying he’s been one of the best players in the world for the past decade.
The German star holds the record for the most Bundesliga assists with 152 and has made more than 600 appearances for Bayern Munich.
MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 08: Thomas Müller of FC Bayern München looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart at Allianz Arena on May 08, 2022 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
- 20. Cris Cyborg - UFC
Though she lost to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232, Cyborg has still enjoyed an incredible career.
She remains the only MMA fighter in history to be a Grand Slam champion and has been the Bellator Women’s Featherweight Champion since January 2020.
- 19. Gene Sarazen - Golf
Sarazen was one of five golfers to win each of the four majors at least once and emerged victorious at 48 professional tournaments in total.
- 18. Maya Moore - Basketball
Moore has won four WNBA championships and could yet become the best women’s basketball player ever.
Moore helped free husband Jonathan Irons from prison in 2020 after successfully getting his conviction overturned, and is currently on sabbatical as she wishes to focus on her family.
- 17. Michael Owen - Football
Despite his injury struggles, Owen was the last British player to win the Ballon d’Or, having scooped the award in 2001.
- 16. Nico Rosberg - F1
Rosberg is still the only Mercedes driver to beat Lewis Hamilton, having beaten his arch-rival to the World Championship in 2016.
The German could easily have gone on to become an all time great but retired that same year.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 27: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP shakes hands with second place finisher and F1 World Drivers Champion Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP on the podium during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 27, 2016 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
- 15. Monica Seles - Tennis
Seles won eight Grand Slam titles before she was 20 and would no doubt have gone on to break multiple records, had it not been for a horrific incident that saw her stabbed on court.
- 14. Annika Sorenstam - Golf
Sorenstam had been named the LPGA Player of the Year on eight occasions.
In 2003, she became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event since 1945.
- 13. Pavel Nedved - Football
Many forget that Nedved won the Ballon d’Or in 2003, beating out Thierry Henry and Paolo Maldini.
The Czech midfielder made more than 500 club appearances and captained the Czech Republic to the semi-finals of Euro 2004.
- 12. Katie Taylor - Boxing
Taylor is arguably the best female boxer ever, but her faultless résumé has not been recognised enough.
The Irish fighter finally got the chance to show the world her talent when she fought Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden earlier this year.
Katie Taylor beat Amanda Serrano in 'the biggest women's fight of all time'
- 11. Ji-sung Park - Football
Sir Alex Ferguson once described Park as Manchester United’s most underrated player and we agree.
The South Korean star could play anywhere in midfield and his endurance levels earned him the nickname “Three-Lungs Park.”
- 10. Venus Williams - Tennis
It was Serena Williams who dominated tennis for the majority of the 2010s, but Venus should also be regarded as one of the greats of the sport.
The American won seven Grand Slam titles, including five at Wimbledon, and claimed 49 career titles in total.
In 2002, Williams became the first-ever black woman in the Open Era to become world number one.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 30: Venus Williams of The United States plays a backhand in her Ladies' Singles Second Round match against Ons Jabeur of Tunisia during Day Three of The Championships - Wimbledon 2021 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
- 9. Rohit Sharma - Cricket
The global influence of Virat Kohli means that some often forget about the incredible career of Sharma so far.
The 35-year-old holds the world record for the highest individual ODI score (264) and has scored more than 16,000 international runs in total.
Sharma has also had far more success than Kohli as a captain, having led the Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles.
KOLKATA, INDIA - NOVEMBER 21: Rohit Sharma of India celebrates their half century during the Third T20 International match between India and New Zealand at Eden Gardens on November 21, 2021 in Kolkata, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
- 8. Scottie Pippen - Basketball
Pippen was an integral part of the record-breaking Chicago Bulls team in the 1990s, even if Michael Jordan was the main star.
Despite being one of the best players in the NBA, Pippen was grossly underpaid throughout his career, having agreed a lengthy contract extension after the 1991 NBA Finals.
Pippen is the only NBA player to have ever won an NBA title and an Olympic gold medal in the same year on two occasions.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 15: Scottie Pippen is introduced in the 2020 NBA All-Star - AT&T Slam Dunk Contest during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at the United Center on February 15, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
- 7. Jackie Joyner-Kersee - Athletics
Joyner-Kersee competed in both heptathlon and the long jump –– winning three Olympic golds, two silvers and two bronze medals across four Games. What’s more, she did all of this having overcome severe asthma.
The American is also an active philanthropist and has campaigned for racial equality and women’s rights.
Jackie Joyner Kersee of the United States with her husband and coach Bobby Kersee during the Hepthalon competition of the United States Olympic Team Trials on 15th June 1996 at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)
- 6. David Weir - Wheelchair Racing
Weir is one of Britain’s most successful Paralympians, having won six Olympic gold medals.
The 43-year-old has also won the London Marathon on eight occasions.
Usain Bolt once described the Brit as “simply inspiring”, while others have hailed him as the best wheelchair racer ever.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: David Weir of Great Britain finishes in third place in the Elite Men's Wheelchair Marathon during the 2022 TCS London Marathon at on October 02, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
- 5. Ryan Lochte - Swimming
There is no doubt that Lochte is one of the most talented swimmers of all time, and it seemed plausible at one stage to suggest he could challenge Michael Phelps’ astonishing Olympic medal record.
The 38-year-old won 12 Olympic medals across four Games and 29 World Championship medals.
What separates Lochte from many others is that he specialises in a number of disciplines, including freestyle, butterfly and backstroke.
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 18: Ryan Lochte of the United States reacts after competing in the Men's 200m individual medley final during Day Six of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 18, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
- 4. David Beckham - Football
Beckham is one of the most famous figures on the planet and has become a British cultural icon.
Despite all his work away from football, people forget just how good Beckham was in his prime.
One of the greatest crossers of the ball in history, Beckham was twice runner-up for FIFA’s World Player of the Year and won 19 major trophies across his career.
23 Mar 2002: David Beckham of Manchester United takes a trademark free-kick during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester United and Middlesbrough played at Old Trafford, in Manchester, England. Middlesbrough won the match 1-0. DIGITALIMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
- 3. Chris Froome - Cycling
Wiggins was knighted after winning the Tour de France in 2012, but Froome has not received the same honour, despite winning the same race on four occasions.
Froome has won seven Grand Tours in total and remains the most successful general classification rider still active in the peloton as of 2022.
The 37-year-old also has two Olympic bronze medals in road time trials.
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 24: Chris Froome of Great Britain and Team Sky celebrates winning the 2016 Le Tour de France following stage twenty one of the 2016 Le Tour de France, from Chantilly to Paris Champs-Elysees on July 24, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
- 2. Joe Calzaghe - Boxing
Calzaghe held world titles in two weight classes across his career and is the longest-reigning super-middleweight world champion in boxing history.
While Floyd Mayweather is often hailed for his undefeated record, Calzaghe also retired with no blemishes on his résumé –– winning all 46 of his fights.
He hung up his gloves in 2009, with the longest continual period as world champion of any active boxer at the time.
CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 28: Joe Calzaghe of Wales celebrates his win after two rounds of the super middleweight contest between Joe Calzaghe of Wales and Byron Mitchell of USA on June 28, 2003 at Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images)
- 1. Christine Sinclair - Football
Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for Portugal is nothing short of incredible, but it’s actually Sinclair who’s scored the most international goals of any player in history.
The 39-year-old has scored 190 goals in more than 300 appearances and was the second footballer to score at five World Cups, after Brazil’s Marta.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Christine Sinclair of Canada in action during the International Women's Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and Canada at Suncorp Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Sinclair also helped Canada win gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and has been named the Canadian Player of the Year on 14 occasions.
Despite her exceptional scoring record, Sinclair has never won the Women’s World Player of the Year, though she has been nominated seven times.
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QUIZ: How well do you remember these iconic British sporting moments?