Most Loved Athletes of All-Time

Since we put out a list of the most hated athletes of all-time, it’s only appropriate that we share our favorites. While the most disliked athletes make us cringe upon hearing their name, the most loved conjure up images of great joy. Imagine your favorite athletes winning championships and breaking records. 

That’s what this list is all about, the most loved athletes of all-time. They all left a mark on their sport somehow. They all left a mark on their fans. Maybe you’re one of them. Think of your favorite athletes ever. Is your guy or girl on the list?

KOBE BRYANT

When the issue of NBA GOAT comes up, Kobe is always one of the names dropped, and for good reason. He spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers with whom he won five NBA championships. Bryant’s list of accomplishments is long – 18-time All-Star, two-time NBA Finals MVP, NBA MVP in 2008, 4th all-time in scoring,  and many more. 

After his playing days, Bryant and his wife religiously served to help young people in need. He was a devoted father who was taking his daughter to a basketball game via helicopter when the aircraft went down. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and nine people aboard the helicopter were all killed in the accident. His tragic death only adds to Bryant’s personna and why he remains one of the favorite athletes of all-time.

WAYNE GRETZKY

He wasn’t the biggest, fastest, or strongest; but Gretzky was definitely the best hockey player of his day and quite possibly ever. His records are numerous. When he retired from the game in 1999, Gretzky held or shared 61 NHL records. He still holds the record for most career goals (894), most career assists (1963), and most career points (2,857). Gretzky won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s the only NHL player to ever record 200 points in a single season.

Upon his retirement, he was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and his #99 jersey was retired by the league. Gretzky won the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL MVP) nine times and the Art Ross Trophy (leading scorer) ten times between 1981 and 1994. What many may not know is that Gretzky won the Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) five times during his career. He was a hard guy not to like.

WALTER PAYTON

How about your legacy is an NFL award named for you that is given each year to the league’s Man of the Year? That’s Walter Payton. “Sweetness” as he was known was a gift to the game of football and to all those around him. Upon his retirement from football in 1987, Payton held the NFL career rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns records. He was five-time first team All-Pro and a three-time second team All-Pro. Payton won the NFL MVP award in 1977, the same year he was named the league’s Man of the Year. 

The award now bears Payton’s name and is presented to an NFL player who is committed to philanthropy, has a strong impact on his community, and represents excellence on the field. The award winner receives $250,000 that is given to a charity of his choice. Now, that’s a lasting impact and it’s why Payton continues to be loved by sports fans.

MICKEY MANTLE

“The Mick” had as many World Series rings as he had fingers. Mantle played his entire MLB career with the New Yorks from 1951 to 1968. He won seven World Series titles, was a 20-time All-Star and won the AL MVP award three times. Mantle led the majors in homers four times and in 1956 he earned the Triple Crown. For all of his great accomplishments, it was his life off the field that pushed the heart strings.

Mantle battled alcoholism and had a reputation for living just as he played – hard. He suffered a number of setbacks with his business ventures and his own alcoholism would affect his sons. Two of them died from it. Mantle would pass away from liver cancer in 1995, but he is cherished by sports fans for simply being human. 

BILLIE JEAN KING

King might be more well known as a trailblazer in the area of gender equality. She won 39 Grand Slam titles, winning the Wimbledon women’s singles title six times and the US Open title five times. She also won 16 doubles titles and 11 mixed doubles championships. When she was 29, she famously beat 55-year-old Bobby Riggs in a “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match. 

Her legacy lives on as King founded the current WTA, the Women’s Tennis Association. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom and has had a number of tennis facilities named for her. King is so popular she just finished a stint on the popular TV show Masked Singer. 

JOE MONTANA

Oh yeah, the guy in the Guinness commercials. Yeah, that’s Joe Montana, easily one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. His Cotton Bowl performance during his senior season is the stuff of legend. Ill and fighting hypothermia, Montana rallied his Notre Dame Fighting Irish from a 34-12 fourth quarter deficit to Houston. The Irish won 35-34 as Montana threw the game-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the game.

Montana would play 16 years in the NFL, 14 with San Francisco. He would win four Super Bowls with the 49ers. In three of those, he was the game’s MVP. Montana also won two NFL MVP awards in back-to-back years, 1989 and 1990. His list of records is long and he was a first ballot Hall of Famer. Montana was known for his calm presence while under pressure. 

In Super Bowl XXIII, the story goes like this. The 49ers are driving for what would be the game-winning touchdown. Montana enters the huddle and says to his teammates, “Look, there’s John Candy!” For those that don’t know, Candy was a pretty popular actor at the time. Montana would go on to throw the game-winning touchdown pass to John Taylor with just 34 seconds left in the game.

MICHAEL JORDAN

Like Kobe, Jordan is part of that GOAT discussion. Also like Kobe, it’s that fire that Jordan had for competition. Viewers were able to get a glimpse inside what it was like to be around Jordan on a daily basis by watching The Last Dance. Most know that Jordan was cut from his high school varsity basketball team during his sophomore year. He became the star of the JV team and in his final two seasons in high school he proved he was one of the country’s best. Dean Smith and North Carolina came calling.

Jordan would famously sink a jumper from the wing to give the Tar Heels a national championship when he was a freshman. He was the third pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Jordan would play most of his career with the Chicago Bulls with whom he would win six NBA titles. He was the NBA Finals MVP in all six of those championship runs. Jordan won the league MVP title five times. Beginning just last year, the MVP award is now the Michael Jordan MVP Award. His list of accomplishments are long, but Jordan overcame adversity early on to become one of the best – if not the best – basketball players ever. 

JACKIE ROBINSON

Robinson is famously known for breaking the MLB color barrier. In 1947, the Dodgers called Robinson up to the big leagues and he made his debut on April 15. Robinson would win the league’s Rookie of the Year award in ‘47 and he would go on to become a six-time All-Star. He was the NL MVP in 1949 and won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1955, just two years before he finished his MLB career. 

Robinson appeared in that first game in 1947 at the relatively “old” age of 28. What many may not realize is that Robinson was a four-sport star at UCLA prior to his MLB career. He was the first UCLA athlete to ever earn varsity letters in four different sports. He was the 1940 NCAA champion in the long jump (24-10¼). He helped lead the 1939 football team to an unbeaten 6-0-4 record. Baseball was Robinson’s “worst” sport in college. 

LIONEL MESSI

Messi is considered to be one of the greatest soccer players of all-time. He spent the majority of his career playing for Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga. Messi has won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. The first award goes to the world’s best player. The second is presented to the leading scorer in all of the top divisions of the European professional leagues. 

Messi is also a member of the Argentinian national team, which he led to its first FIFA World Cup title just last year. Messi is so popular that when he signed with Inter Miami CF of the MLS, season ticket sales went through the roof. The club, which was among the worst in MLS, went on to win the Leagues Cup. 

USAIN BOLT

Bolt is the most dominant sprinter in the history of track and field. He is the only sprinter to win the 100 meters and 200 meters in three consecutive Olympic games. Bolt won a total of eight Olympic medals and 11 World Championships. He still holds the world record in both the 100m (9.58) and 200m (19.19). 

Bolt also has an electric personality. He has an infectious smile that lights up the room. Bolt loved to make volunteers and officials feel important. You would often see him fist bump many of a meet’s workers. He was also well known for his pranks. Being dominant on the track sure helped, but Bolt as a person is why so many loved him.