​LeBron James and Michael Jordan are almost always at the center of any debate about the greatest athlete of all time. For decades, basketball fans have argued over whether Jordan’s six championships and unmatched competitive résumé outweigh James’ longevity, all-around dominance and record-setting NBA career. Add Tom Brady’s seven Super Bowl titles into the conversation, and the GOAT debate usually becomes a three-way argument across basketball and football.
But ESPN recently went in a different direction when naming its greatest male athlete of all time. Instead of choosing James, Jordan or Brady, ESPN gave the honor to Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi.
Messi’s case is difficult to ignore. The longtime Barcelona superstar and current Inter Miami forward has won eight Ballon d’Or awards, more than any player in soccer history. He has also won nearly every major trophy available to him, including league titles, Champions League trophies and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina. That World Cup victory was widely viewed as the final missing piece in Messi’s already legendary career.
So why did ESPN place Messi ahead of LeBron James and Michael Jordan in the GOAT male athlete debate? ESPN writer Ryan O’Hanlon explained that Messi separates himself because he has made the most popular sport in the world look simple for nearly two decades.
According to O’Hanlon, Messi is the best ever because of how complete his game has been. He has not only been an elite goal scorer, but also one of the greatest creators, passers and dribblers the sport has ever seen. His brilliance does not come from one dominant trait. Instead, Messi has been exceptional in virtually every major part of attacking soccer, which is why his peak and longevity are so difficult to match.
O’Hanlon argued that the GOAT discussion should consider two major factors: how far ahead an athlete is compared to the rest of their competition, and how many people participate in that athlete’s sport worldwide. By that standard, Messi has a powerful argument. Soccer is the most played and most followed sport on the planet, making the competition pool larger than any other major sport. To be the best player in the world for that long, in a sport with that level of global participation, gives Messi a unique edge.
That reasoning is what separates Messi from James, Jordan and Brady in ESPN’s view. Jordan dominated the NBA in the 1990s and became one of the most influential sports figures ever. James has maintained an unprecedented level of greatness across more than two decades while becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Brady built the most decorated career in NFL history and won championships across multiple eras. Each has a strong GOAT case in his own sport.
Still, ESPN’s argument is that Messi’s dominance came in a more global and more competitive athletic landscape. While basketball and football are massive in the United States, soccer’s reach extends across every continent. Messi did not just become the best player in a popular league; he became the defining player of the world’s biggest sport.
The debate is still subjective. Fans who grew up watching Jordan may never be convinced that anyone surpassed him. LeBron supporters can point to his longevity, versatility and statistical achievements. Brady fans can cite the difficulty of winning seven championships in the NFL. There is no universal formula that settles the GOAT conversation for everyone.
However, ESPN’s choice of Messi is not a random snub of LeBron James or Michael Jordan. It is a recognition of Messi’s sustained excellence, global impact and unmatched résumé in soccer. Whether fans agree or not, the case for Messi as the greatest male athlete of all time is one of the strongest in sports.
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