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 more likely to be included?
We got here up with an inventory of 25 — together with some you in all probability already know fairly properly resembling Caitlin Clark, Justin Jefferson and Scottie Scheffler. There are a pair — Noah Lyles and Hezly Rivera — you’ll study extra about throughout the Olympic Video games in Paris.
And we is perhaps introducing just a few people — resembling Kimi Antonelli, the inheritor obvious to steer the Mercedes F1 staff.
Let’s dive into the following 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, one in every of 4 males within the Open period (since 1968) with 4 main titles earlier than the age of twenty-two.
Rafael Nadal had gained three Grand Slam occasions by the point he turned 22. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic had gained one apiece. However Alcaraz, who turned 21 in Could, already has 4. He is already three-quarters of his solution to a profession Grand Slam, one thing Federer did not lock down till age 27. He has already gained 5 Masters 1000 occasions, and he is 19-1 in Slam and Masters finals. It was a giant deal that Alcaraz gained not less than 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, often, Federer’s artistry. He radiates pleasure, smiling after factors gained and misplaced and infrequently 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 Method Regional Center East and European champion, 2022 ADAC Method 4 champion, 2022 Italian F4 champion.
Think about being the motive force entrusted to switch Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton — now think about you have not even turned 18 but. That is the state of affairs dealing with Italian wonderkid and Method 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 perhaps generational. Italy has not had a world champion since 1953; if he lives as much as the hype, Antonelli is perhaps the motive 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 objectives in a season, 2023 IIHF Male Participant of the Yr.
Not that the NHL is missing in the case of younger superstars, however there’s a perception Bedard may very well be the face of the league finally. His identify 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 objectives and 61 factors over 69 video games, and taking part in prime minutes as an 18-year-old. Being trusted with that a lot accountability at a younger age is an honor reserved for these projected to be franchise cornerstones. Bedard may very well 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 provide an concept 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 yr. Going into the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup, all eyes had been on Caicedo, who delivered sport in, sport out. Her gorgeous purpose towards Germany will stay in followers’ reminiscences, and she or he led Colombia to the quarterfinals, its finest end at a World Cup. Now at Actual Madrid, the 19-year-old is destined for excellent 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 match; 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 document.
A two-time nationwide participant of the yr in faculty, Clark turned 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 development for girls’s basketball that includes document TV scores, sellout crowds and elevated funding. Though her deep 3-point taking pictures was a trademark of her sport in faculty, Clark’s facilitating has shined most thus far 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 she or he could lead on the WNBA in assists by season’s finish. — Alexa Philippou
Key accomplishments: Undefeated skilled (12-0) and beginner (4-0) information, 7-0 since debuting in PFL in 2022, gained 11 of 12 skilled fights by end (10 by knockout, one by submission), gained gold medal at 2016 Worldwide Federation of Muaythai Newbie World Championships.
There’s nonetheless numerous work to be performed by Ditcheva (12-0) towards greater ranges of competitors — but when she continues alongside the trail she’s been on, the PFL could have a difference-maker on this 26-year-old out of Liverpool. Ditcheva has already proven a capability to carry out underneath the best of expectations. She handles the highlight superbly. She strikes and throws punches in a method that jumps off the display. It’s uncommon to see a flyweight lady persistently end all of her opponents so viciously. There’s one other gear to her offense that has overwhelmed opponents thus far. She faces Jena Bishop in August within the semifinals of PFL’s playoffs. If she wins, she’s going to face a longtime identify within the finals: Liz Carmouche or Taila Santos. The subsequent chapter is coming in a short time for Ditcheva. It will not be straightforward, however she has the proper mixture of charisma, confidence and ending means to develop into a professional 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 Recreation 2 of the Western Convention finals, the 25-year-old roared at Rudy Gobert: “You may’t f—ing guard me!” Gobert, a four-time Defensive Participant of the Yr, has loads of firm in that distress. Doncic simply had probably the most prolific statistical seasons in NBA historical past, averaging 33.9 factors (a league excessive), 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per sport, a mixture by no means earlier than achieved. Solely Michael Jordan has a better 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 nearly all the key European golf equipment to signal Endrick, 16 on the time, for a whopping €72 million in 2022. Expectations are actually excessive for the teenager, with some even evaluating him to Brazil legend Pelé. Clever 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 energy to complete contained in the field. At a world-class membership resembling Actual Madrid, Endrick will certainly develop into a family identify over the following decade. — SherShah Atif
Gabriela Fundora, boxing
Key accomplishments: 13-0 skilled document, IBF world flyweight champion, 2-0 in world title fights, No. 2 ladies’s flyweight boxer based on ESPN rankings.
Fundora, generally known as “Candy Poison,” is barely 22 however has already gained 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 gained titles in seven weight lessons, and develop into the largest ladies’s boxing star within the smaller weight lessons. — Nick Parkinson
Naoya Inoue, boxing
Key accomplishments: 27-0 skilled document, 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, top-of-the-line boxers in historical past underneath 126 kilos. He is additionally a megastar in Japan: Inoue’s sixth-round TKO victory over Luis Nery in Could 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 just a little extra punch. “The Monster” has gained every of his previous eight fights inside the gap. His 2019 victory over future Corridor of Famer Nonito Donaire was ESPN’s 2019 Combat of the Yr. Inoue gained titles at 108 and 115 kilos, gained 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 speeding yards in a number of seasons.
Jackson has established himself as one of the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL historical past and one of many league’s prime playmakers. He turned the youngest two-time NFL Most Worthwhile 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 document (.753), which is one of the best mark by a quarterback with not less than 50 begins since 2018. “Lamar Jackson is an outstanding success,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated. “He is an outstanding success as a soccer participant. He is an outstanding success as an individual, as a pacesetter, as a household man. In my view, there’s no person higher on this league, particularly no person 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 a participant’s first 4 seasons in NFL historical past, one in every of 4 gamers in NFL historical past to document 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 one of the best begin to a profession for a large receiver in NFL historical past. His common of 6.5 catches per sport is the second highest of any receiver in his first 4 seasons, and his common of 98.3 yards per sport is the best in NFL historical past — for any profession span. He has performed so with a well-honed ability set for getting open towards a wide range of coverages and the sort of ball expertise 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 easy swing has left different golfers questioning how anybody else can beat her. On April 21, Korda gained 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 following 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 referred to 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 understood for her decision-making and consciousness. “She’s very clever and is aware of learn how to interpret the sport very properly,” Alba Mellado, a former Actual Madrid participant, stated 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 world 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, observe
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 gained six world gold medals and an Olympic bronze, but it appears that evidently one of the best days are nonetheless forward for the 26-year-old. On the Paris Olympics in only a few 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 gained at the newest world championships. “As individuals look again at this yr, they’re gonna be like, ‘That is the yr that Noah gained the 200, the 100 and the four-by-[100 relay],'” Lyles stated 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 300 profession video games in NHL historical past behind Bobby Orr.
Makar continues to be in comparison with Orr, the particular person usually 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 gained the award in 2022. He fell some extent shy of tying Orr because the quickest defenseman to 300 profession factors and is averaging greater than some extent per sport in his five-year profession (336 factors in 315 video games). He has a Stanley Cup title and a Conn Smythe with the prospect so as to add extra because the Colorado Avalanche stay in a championship window. — Ryan Clark
Key accomplishments: UFC bantamweight champion, 18-1 document, six wins by knockout, 2-0 in UFC title fights, third-best vital strike differential in UFC historical past (+4.24).
In only a few years, Sean O’Malley has gone from a lanky energy puncher on “Dana White’s Contender Collection” to immensely common UFC bantamweight champion recognized 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 develop into a human spotlight reel of finishes courtesy of his distinctive placing means and distinctive charisma. He already has gained probably the most postfight bonuses in UFC bantamweight historical past (9) and acquired the ESPYS award for Greatest MMA Fighter this yr. 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. Combined martial arts is an extremely unpredictable sport, however O’Malley has proven fixed enchancment in all sides and has the potential to develop into the UFC’s subsequent large factor over the following few years. — Andreas Hale
Key accomplishments: 2023-24 SEC Participant of the Yr, 2024 WNBA All-Star, holds WNBA single-season document with 15 straight double-doubles, trying to develop into first rookie since 2010 to steer in rebounds per sport.
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 document for double-doubles (34) throughout the 2022-23 marketing campaign. After being chosen No. 7 by the Chicago Sky, the rookie proved her sport, power and can would translate to the following degree: Reese notched 15 consecutive double-doubles to interrupt the WNBA document, 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 she or he made the outstanding leap from junior nationwide champion to Olympic staff in a single yr. The cool underneath strain she displayed at Olympic trials captured everybody’s consideration, and she’s going to possible come out of this yr’s Video games with not less than a staff medal (in all probability gold). Whereas veteran teammates resembling 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 highway. — 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 1 who can not seem to cease successful has been nothing in need of superb. He gained 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 one of the best by any participant not named Tiger. This yr, Scheffler turned 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 top of his Corridor of Fame profession, and so have his creativity and his mushy fingers across the greens. — Mark Schlabach
Key accomplishments: First participant in June beginner draft historical past (since 1965) to be drafted and make the All-Star staff the following yr; fifth rookie to begin an All-Star Recreation, becoming a member of Dave Stenhouse (1962), Mark Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Hideo Nomo (1995); 34.9% strikeout charge 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 yr after he was drafted. Earlier than his second begin, Skenes was requested concerning the changes hitters will make. “Go forward and alter,” he stated. “Good luck.” Up to now, they have not. It is not a stretch to say he is already one of the best starter within the majors. — David Schoenfield
Key accomplishments: 4-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, 2019 World Collection champion. Certainly one of six gamers in MLB historical past with a number of seasons of 30 residence 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 ability that can outline his profession: top-of-the-line pairs of eyes within the historical past of the sport. With a profession .422 on-base proportion, 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 a better OBP amongst gamers with 3,500 plate appearances. Now 25, Soto is on his solution 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 warfare start. — David Schoenfield
Key accomplishments: 5 main titles, 5-0 in Grand Slam finals, prime seed in 10 consecutive majors. She is one in every 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 achieve the third spherical or higher at each main match performed for the reason that begin of 2020.
The factor about rating gamers primarily based on a particular time frame is that it is laborious to determine what to do about somebody like Swiatek. She has already gained 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 gained 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 gained as many French Opens (4) as Rafael Nadal, the king of clay, had on the identical age. She hasn’t even found out 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 stated 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. Effectively, he is extra like an alien,” James stated two days after Wembanyama’s American debut in October 2022. Since then, Wembanyama has one way or the other exceeded the excessive expectations positioned upon him. He turned 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 sport. He has put the league on discover. Mentioned new teammate Chris Paul: “I let you know there’s in all probability 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 underneath 18 with 10 objectives in one in every of Europe’s prime 5 leagues in a single season prior to now 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 can be protected. Quick-forward two years and he has already achieved greater than some gamers do of their total careers, successful the 2024 European Championship with Spain and breaking loads of information on the best way. No surprise the Spain coach referred to as him a “genius.” Yamal is drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi — each left-footed gamers with the same fashion — and much more so after photographs confirmed an toddler Yamal with a 20-year-old Messi. — SherShah Atif
