We’ve got spent the previous week counting down our listing of the highest 100 athletes of the twenty first century, however what concerning the subsequent era?
If we do one other listing in 2050, which present athletes who did not make it this time round are prone to be included?
We got here up with a listing of 25 — together with some you most likely already know fairly effectively corresponding to Caitlin Clark, Justin Jefferson and Scottie Scheffler. There are a pair — Noah Lyles and Hezly Rivera — you’ll be taught extra about through the Olympic Video games in Paris.
And we is likely to be introducing just a few people — corresponding to Kimi Antonelli, the inheritor obvious to steer the Mercedes F1 staff.
Let’s dive into the subsequent group of potential icons throughout the sports activities panorama as their respective stars rise.
Key accomplishments: 4 main titles, 4-0 in Grand Slam finals, certainly one of 4 males within the Open period (since 1968) with 4 main titles earlier than the age of twenty-two.
Rafael Nadal had received three Grand Slam occasions by the point he turned 22. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic had received one apiece. However Alcaraz, who turned 21 in Might, already has 4. He is already three-quarters of his method to a profession Grand Slam, one thing Federer did not lock down till age 27. He has already received 5 Masters 1000 occasions, and he is 19-1 in Slam and Masters finals. It was a giant deal that Alcaraz received at the very least one match at every Slam in 2021, his age-18 season, however he has proceeded to lift the bar numerous occasions. He has Djokovic’s velocity, Nadal’s physicality and, sometimes, Federer’s artistry. He radiates pleasure, smiling after factors received and misplaced and sometimes applauding his opponent. He is simply getting began. — Invoice Connelly
Kimi Antonelli, auto racing
Key accomplishments: Racing in F2 in 2024 as a 17-year-old, 2023 Formulation Regional Center East and European champion, 2022 ADAC Formulation 4 champion, 2022 Italian F4 champion.
Think about being the driving force entrusted to exchange Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton — now think about you’ve got not even turned 18 but. That is the scenario going through Italian wonderkid and Formulation 2 racer Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes junior and motor racing’s present “subsequent large factor.” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, nonetheless sore about lacking out on Max Verstappen a decade in the past, is decided to not let historical past repeat itself with a expertise he thinks is likely to be generational. Italy has not had a world champion since 1953; if he lives as much as the hype, Antonelli is likely to be the driving force to finish that agonizing wait. — Nate Saunders
Key accomplishments: 2024 Calder award winner as finest rookie, youngest participant in Blackhawks historical past with 60-point season, No. 1 choose in 2023 NHL draft; youngest participant in Western Hockey League historical past to attain 50 targets in a season, 2023 IIHF Male Participant of the Yr.
Not that the NHL is missing relating to younger superstars, however there’s a perception Bedard could possibly be the face of the league ultimately. His title was already being mentioned in NHL rinks years earlier than he was draft-eligible. Bedard simply completed his rookie season with the Chicago Blackhawks, successful the Calder Trophy, ending with 22 targets and 61 factors over 69 video games, and enjoying prime minutes as an 18-year-old. Being trusted with that a lot duty at a younger age is an honor reserved for these projected to be franchise cornerstones. Bedard could possibly be simply that and probably extra because the Blackhawks search to return to prominence as one of many NHL’s elite groups. — Ryan Clark
Key accomplishments: 2022 South American Footballer of the Yr, 2022 Copa América Femenina Golden Ball, 2022 Copa América Femenina Greatest XI, 2021 Copa Libertadores Femenina Crew of the Season, 2019 Colombian Ladies’s Soccer League High scorer.
To offer an thought of Caicedo’s rise to the highest, she was the primary participant to compete at three Ladies’s World Cups (under-17, U20 and senior degree) inside a 12 months. Going into the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup, all eyes have been on Caicedo, who delivered recreation in, recreation out. Her gorgeous purpose towards Germany will dwell in followers’ reminiscences, and he or she led Colombia to the quarterfinals, its finest end at a World Cup. Now at Actual Madrid, the 19-year-old is destined for nice issues for each membership and nation. — SherShah Atif
Key accomplishments: Profession scoring chief in faculty basketball historical past; profession chief in factors, assists and 3-pointers within the NCAA event; 2024 and 2023 AP School Participant of the Yr; 2024 WNBA All-Star; recorded first rookie triple-double in WNBA historical past; set WNBA single-game assists file.
A two-time nationwide participant of the 12 months in faculty, Clark grew to become the NCAA Division I main profession scorer for males’s or ladies’s basketball throughout her senior season at Iowa. Chosen No. 1 within the 2024 WNBA draft, the Indiana Fever rookie has helped catalyze this second of exponential progress for girls’s basketball that includes file TV rankings, sellout crowds and elevated funding. Though her deep 3-point taking pictures was a trademark of her recreation in faculty, Clark’s facilitating has shined most to date on the professional degree. She’s the one rookie in league historical past to tally a triple-double or to have a number of 20-point, 10-assist video games, and he or she could lead on the WNBA in assists by season’s finish. — Alexa Philippou
Key accomplishments: Undefeated skilled (12-0) and novice (4-0) information, 7-0 since debuting in PFL in 2022, received 11 of 12 skilled fights by end (10 by knockout, one by submission), received gold medal at 2016 Worldwide Federation of Muaythai Beginner World Championships.
There may be nonetheless a whole lot of work to be finished by Ditcheva (12-0) towards larger ranges of competitors — but when she continues alongside the trail she’s been on, the PFL can have a difference-maker on this 26-year-old out of Liverpool. Ditcheva has already proven a capability to carry out below the best of expectations. She handles the highlight superbly. She strikes and throws punches in a approach that jumps off the display. It’s uncommon to see a flyweight girl persistently end all of her opponents so viciously. There may be one other gear to her offense that has overwhelmed opponents to date. She faces Jena Bishop in August within the semifinals of PFL’s playoffs. If she wins, she’s going to face a longtime title within the finals: Liz Carmouche or Taila Santos. The following chapter is coming in a short time for Ditcheva. It will not be simple, however she has the right mixture of charisma, confidence and ending capability to turn into a reliable star. — Brett Okamoto
Key accomplishments: 5-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, 2018-19 Rookie of the Yr, 2023-24 Western Convention MVP, third participant in NBA historical past with 5 first-team All-NBA choices earlier than turning 26, tied for eighth in triple-doubles in NBA historical past with 77.
After Doncic danced and drilled the go-ahead 3 with seconds remaining in Sport 2 of the Western Convention finals, the 25-year-old roared at Rudy Gobert: “You possibly can’t f—ing guard me!” Gobert, a four-time Defensive Participant of the Yr, has loads of firm in that distress. Doncic simply had one of the crucial prolific statistical seasons in NBA historical past, averaging 33.9 factors (a league excessive), 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per recreation, a mix by no means earlier than completed. Solely Michael Jordan has the next profession playoff scoring common than Doncic’s 30.9. — Tim MacMahon
Key accomplishments: Fourth-youngest purpose scorer for Brazil’s senior staff and fifth participant 17 or youthful to attain for Brazil, becoming a member of Pelé, Edú, Ronaldo and Coutinho; 2022 and 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A winner; 2023 Supercopa do Brasil winner; 2023 and 2024 Campeonato Paulista winner.
Actual Madrid beat virtually all the key European golf equipment to signal Endrick, 16 on the time, for a whopping €72 million in 2022. Expectations at the moment are excessive for the teen, with some even evaluating him to Brazil legend Pelé. Smart past his years, Endrick responded by saying “Simply let historical past be made.” The stocky striker can do all of it: dash previous defenders, use trickery to idiot opposition and depend on his power to complete contained in the field. At a world-class membership corresponding to Actual Madrid, Endrick will certainly turn into a family title over the subsequent decade. — SherShah Atif
Gabriela Fundora, boxing
Key accomplishments: 13-0 skilled file, IBF world flyweight champion, 2-0 in world title fights, No. 2 ladies’s flyweight boxer in line with ESPN rankings.
Fundora, referred to as “Candy Poison,” is just 22 however has already received the IBF flyweight title and has made one profitable protection. Fundora, from Coachella, California, is an thrilling fighter to look at, with six stoppage victories in her 13 wins, and that punching energy and youth will certainly information her to win extra titles in a number of divisions. She is the sister of Sebastian Fundora, the WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion. They’re the primary brother-and-sister siblings to carry boxing world titles concurrently. Fundora has the potential to succeed future Corridor of Famer and present unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, the 35-year-old Puerto Rican who has received titles in seven weight lessons, and turn into the largest ladies’s boxing star within the smaller weight lessons. — Nick Parkinson
Naoya Inoue, boxing
Key accomplishments: 27-0 skilled file, 24 wins by knockout, 22-0 in world title fights, four-division champion (junior flyweight, junior bantamweight, bantamweight, junior featherweight).
Inoue is already an all-time nice at 31, the most effective boxers in historical past below 126 kilos. He is additionally a megastar in Japan: Inoue’s sixth-round TKO victory over Luis Nery in Might packed practically 60,000 followers into the Tokyo Dome for the primary boxing occasion within the famed venue since Buster Douglas handed Mike Tyson his first loss as knowledgeable in 1990. Every time Inoue strikes up in weight, he appears to pack a little bit extra punch. “The Monster” has received every of his previous eight fights inside the space. His 2019 victory over future Corridor of Famer Nonito Donaire was ESPN’s 2019 Battle of the Yr. Inoue received titles at 108 and 115 kilos, received the undisputed championship at 118, and is the reigning undisputed champion at 122 kilos. He is unlikely to cease there, both, together with his sights set on 126 kilos. — Mike Coppinger
Key accomplishments: Two-time MVP, two-time first-team All-Professional choose, three-time Professional Bowl choose, second unanimous MVP in NFL historical past in 2019, first participant with 3,000 passing yards and 800 dashing yards in a number of seasons.
Jackson has established himself as the very best dual-threat quarterback in NFL historical past and one of many league’s prime playmakers. He grew to become the youngest two-time NFL Most Precious Participant for the reason that merger, successful the award once more final season on the age of 27. Beating defenses together with his arm in addition to his legs, Jackson has produced a 58-19 file (.753), which is the very best mark by a quarterback with at the very least 50 begins since 2018. “Lamar Jackson is an exceptional success,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned. “He is an exceptional success as a soccer participant. He is an exceptional success as an individual, as a frontrunner, as a household man. For my part, there’s no one higher on this league, particularly no one higher for the Baltimore Ravens, and for this group, and for this metropolis. I am excited concerning the future.” — Jamison Hensley
Key accomplishments: Three-time Professional Bowl choose, one-time first-team All-Professional, 2022 AP Offensive Participant of the Yr, his 5,899 profession receiving yards is probably the most by means of a participant’s first 4 seasons in NFL historical past, certainly one of 4 gamers in NFL historical past to file 1,600 receiving yards in consecutive seasons: Tyreek Hill (2022-23), Justin Jefferson (2021-22), Antonio Brown (2014-15), Calvin Johnson (2011-12).
Jefferson has produced arguably the very best begin to a profession for a large receiver in NFL historical past. His common of 6.5 catches per recreation is the second highest of any receiver in his first 4 seasons, and his common of 98.3 yards per recreation is the best in NFL historical past — for any profession span. He has finished so with a well-honed talent set for getting open towards quite a lot of coverages and the type of ball abilities which have led to a sequence of iconic catches, most notably to transform a fourth-and-18 at Buffalo in 2022. The one impediment in crafting a Corridor of Fame profession is well being. His 2023 season was shortened to 10 video games due to two vital accidents, a torn proper hamstring and a bruised lung, however he nonetheless produced his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard effort. — Kevin Seifert
Key accomplishments: Present world No. 1, 14 LPGA Tour wins, two-time main winner, gold medal winner at Tokyo Olympics.
Korda’s silky clean swing has left different golfers questioning how anybody else can beat her. On April 21, Korda received her fifth consecutive begin — and second main championship — on the Chevron Championship, becoming a member of Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05) as the one LPGA golfers to take action. It wasn’t at all times really easy. After capturing her first main and a gold medal on the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Korda was sidelined for a lot of the subsequent season with a blood clot. She battled again to return to the No. 1 on the earth. After seeing Korda’s swing on the QBE Shootout in December 2022, PGA Tour professional Kevin Kisner known as her the “Tiger Woods of the LPGA.” — Mark Schlabach
Key accomplishments: UEFA ladies’s Nations League winner with Spain Senior staff, two-time Liga F winner, Copa de la Reina winner, two-time Supercopa de Espana winner, two-time UEFA Ladies’s Champions league winner with Barcelona.
At simply 17 years outdated, López is thought for her decision-making and consciousness. “She’s very clever and is aware of methods to interpret the sport very effectively,” Alba Mellado, a former Actual Madrid participant, mentioned of López. Hardly ever do gamers win a coveted Champions League trophy, and the precocious López already has two with Barcelona. Earlier than breaking loads of information for membership and nation, the versatile attacker was making waves on a worldwide stage, successful the U17 World Cup with Spain in addition to the Golden Ball award. Her potential is sky-high, and amid a Barça staff brimming with stars, she’s certain to earn a beginning place. — SherShah Atif
Noah Lyles, monitor
Key accomplishments: Bronze medal in males’s 200 meters on the Tokyo Olympics, six-time world championships gold medalist, two-time world indoor championships silver medalist, first man to finish the dash treble at a world championships since Usain Bolt in 2015, five-time Diamond League champion; gold medalist at 2024 World Relays in Nassau; two-time world U20 championships gold medalist.
Lyles has received six world gold medals and an Olympic bronze, but evidently the very best days are nonetheless forward for the 26-year-old. On the Paris Olympics in just some weeks, his potential is sky-high. He’s anticipated to compete in three occasions — the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100 relay — three races he received at the latest world championships. “As folks look again at this 12 months, they’re gonna be like, ‘That is the 12 months that Noah received the 200, the 100 and the four-by-[100 relay],'” Lyles mentioned at worlds. “After which they’re going to be like, ‘That’s the begin of a dynasty.'” — Amy Van Deusen
Key accomplishments: 2022 Norris Trophy winner, 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, 2022 Stanley Cup champion, 2020 Calder Trophy winner, second-most factors for defenseman by means of 300 profession video games in NHL historical past behind Bobby Orr.
Makar continues to be in comparison with Orr, the particular person typically thought of the best defenseman in NHL historical past. Orr was a Norris Trophy finalist in his first 4 seasons, successful it thrice in that span. As for Makar, the 25-year-old has been a finalist in 4 consecutive years and received the award in 2022. He fell a degree shy of tying Orr because the quickest defenseman to 300 profession factors and is averaging greater than a degree per recreation in his five-year profession (336 factors in 315 video games). He has a Stanley Cup title and a Conn Smythe with the possibility so as to add extra because the Colorado Avalanche stay in a championship window. — Ryan Clark
Key accomplishments: UFC bantamweight champion, 18-1 file, six wins by knockout, 2-0 in UFC title fights, third-best vital strike differential in UFC historical past (+4.24).
In just some years, Sean O’Malley has gone from a lanky energy puncher on “Dana White’s Contender Sequence” to immensely in style UFC bantamweight champion identified for his trademark colourful coiffure. O’Malley possesses gorgeous energy packed in a wiry body and an “it” issue that few have in fight sports activities. He has turn into a human spotlight reel of finishes courtesy of his distinctive placing capability and distinctive charisma. He already has received probably the most postfight bonuses in UFC bantamweight historical past (9) and acquired the ESPYS award for Greatest MMA Fighter this 12 months. Some thought he was pushed into the title image too rapidly, however he silenced the naysayers when he dominated Aljamain Sterling and captured UFC gold. Blended martial arts is an extremely unpredictable sport, however O’Malley has proven fixed enchancment in all aspects and has the potential to turn into the UFC’s subsequent large factor over the subsequent few years. — Andreas Hale
Key accomplishments: 2023-24 SEC Participant of the Yr, 2024 WNBA All-Star, holds WNBA single-season file with 15 straight double-doubles, seeking to turn into first rookie since 2010 to steer in rebounds per recreation.
One other participant who has been a face of the expansion of girls’s basketball, Reese led LSU to the 2023 NCAA championship because the Closing 4 Most Excellent Participant. The Baltimore native, who prides herself on unapologetic authenticity, set the NCAA single-season file for double-doubles (34) through the 2022-23 marketing campaign. After being chosen No. 7 by the Chicago Sky, the rookie proved her recreation, power and can would translate to the subsequent degree: Reese notched 15 consecutive double-doubles to interrupt the WNBA file, passing the likes of Candace Parker. — Alexa Philippou
Hezly Rivera, gymnastics
Key accomplishments: At 16, the youngest member of Crew USA competing on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Two-time junior world championships silver medalist (staff and ground train), 2023 Winter Cup all-around, stability beam and ground gold medalist, 2022 U.S. gold medalist in stability beam.
Though Rivera does not have the credentials of a few of the different athletes on this listing but, she is clearly positioned to be one of many subsequent nice U.S. gymnasts. Rivera, who turned 16 in June, would be the youngest U.S. Olympian in any sport in Paris, and he or she made the exceptional soar from junior nationwide champion to Olympic staff in a single 12 months. The cool below strain she displayed at Olympic trials captured everybody’s consideration, and she’s going to doubtless come out of this 12 months’s Video games with at the very least a staff medal (most likely gold). Whereas veteran teammates corresponding to Simone Biles and Suni Lee may forestall her from incomes particular person medals this time, all bets are off for the world and Olympic competitions down the street. — Amy Van Deusen
Key accomplishments: Present world No. 1, 12 profession PGA Tour wins, two-time Masters winner, has made 40 straight cuts.
Scheffler’s meteoric rise from a golfer who could not win to at least one who can not seem to cease successful has been nothing wanting wonderful. He received 4 occasions in six begins in 2022, together with his first main victory on the Masters. Final season, he added two extra victories and posted a scoring common of 68.63, the seventh lowest in PGA Tour historical past and the very best by any participant not named Tiger. This 12 months, Scheffler grew to become the primary golfer since Arnold Palmer in 1962 to win six occasions earlier than July 1, together with his second Masters title. Scheffler’s ballstriking has rivaled you-know-who’s on the peak of his Corridor of Fame profession, and so have his creativity and his comfortable palms across the greens. — Mark Schlabach
Key accomplishments: First participant in June novice draft historical past (since 1965) to be drafted and make the All-Star staff the subsequent 12 months; fifth rookie to start out an All-Star Sport, becoming a member of Dave Stenhouse (1962), Mark Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Hideo Nomo (1995); 34.9% strikeout fee is finest in MLB this season (minimal 11 begins); fourth pitcher since 1893 with a number of begins of zero hits and 10-plus strikeouts in a single season, becoming a member of Nolan Ryan (1973), Max Scherzer (2015) and Justin Verlander (2022).
With a fastball that averages 99.2 mph (the quickest within the majors amongst beginning pitchers), a wipeout slider and an unhittable “splinker” (a splitter-sinker hybrid), Skenes’ first two months within the large leagues have been as electrical as any we have ever seen from a rookie pitcher. He made the All-Star staff — the primary participant to try this the 12 months after he was drafted. Earlier than his second begin, Skenes was requested concerning the changes hitters will make. “Go forward and alter,” he mentioned. “Good luck.” Up to now, they have not. It isn’t a stretch to say he is already the very best starter within the majors. — David Schoenfield
Key accomplishments: 4-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, 2019 World Sequence champion. Certainly one of six gamers in MLB historical past with a number of seasons of 30 house runs and 100 walks earlier than turning 25. He has 25 homers and 125 walks in three straight seasons — solely Barry Bonds (4, 2001-04) and Ted Williams (9, 1941-49) have longer streaks.
When Soto reached the majors as a precocious 19-year-old, he already had the talent that can outline his profession: the most effective pairs of eyes within the historical past of the sport. With a profession .422 on-base share, Soto is an OBP machine in an period when getting on base is more durable than ever. Since 1950, solely Ted Williams and Barry Bonds have the next OBP amongst gamers with 3,500 plate appearances. Now 25, Soto is on his method to a fifth straight season with extra walks than strikeouts and a 3rd 30-homer season. He is additionally heading to free company. Let the bidding conflict start. — David Schoenfield
Key accomplishments: 5 main titles, 5-0 in Grand Slam finals, prime seed in 10 consecutive majors. She is certainly one of three gamers to win every of their first 5 profession main finals within the Open Period (since 1968), becoming a member of Roger Federer and Monica Seles. She’s the one participant (in males’s or ladies’s tennis) to succeed in the third spherical or higher at each main event performed for the reason that begin of 2020.
The factor about rating gamers primarily based on a particular time period is that it is onerous to determine what to do about somebody like Swiatek. She has already received 5 Slam titles and 10 WTA 1000 occasions; within the Open Period, solely Serena Williams and Steffi Graf can prime her in bowl classes. She has received as many Slams as Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis and extra 1000s than Monica Seles and Venus Williams. However she’s additionally simply 23 years outdated! She’s just one Slam title behind the place Serena Williams was at 23. She has received as many French Opens (4) as Rafael Nadal, the king of clay, had on the identical age. She hasn’t even discovered grass but. Swiatek’s trajectory is in contrast to something we have seen since Serena on the ladies’s aspect. — Invoice Connelly
Key accomplishments: 2023-24 Rookie of the Yr, first rookie to be named first-team All-Protection.
Earlier than Victor Wembanyama ever set foot on an NBA courtroom, LeBron James mentioned the younger participant was in contrast to something the league had ever seen. “All people’s been a unicorn over the previous couple of years. Nicely, he is extra like an alien,” James mentioned two days after Wembanyama’s American debut in October 2022. Since then, Wembanyama has by some means exceeded the excessive expectations positioned upon him. He grew to become the primary rookie in NBA historical past to make first-team All-Protection and have become the second rookie to steer the league in blocks all whereas averaging 21.4 factors, 10.6 rebounds and three.9 assists a recreation. He has put the league on discover. Mentioned new teammate Chris Paul: “I let you know there’s most likely no participant within the league that everyone within the league talks about after the sport like him.” — Andrew Lopez
Key accomplishments: Youngest male purpose scorer in Euro historical past, youngest participant to make an look in World Cup or Euro semifinal, youngest participant to play within the European Championship, first participant below 18 with 10 targets in certainly one of Europe’s prime 5 leagues in a single season previously 15 years.
When Lamine Yamal was 15 in 2022, there have been already rumors about him as a gem of a participant who would guarantee Barcelona’s future could be protected. Quick-forward two years and he has already completed greater than some gamers do of their total careers, successful the 2024 European Championship with Spain and breaking loads of information on the way in which. No surprise the Spain coach known as him a “genius.” Yamal is drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi — each left-footed gamers with an identical fashion — and much more so after pictures confirmed an toddler Yamal with a 20-year-old Messi. — SherShah Atif
