Have you ever discussed GOAT? It’s a common acronym for “Greatest of All Time.” This term has sparked millions of conversations about the best athletes in major sports. The GOATS debate is endless, but there are some undisputed greats who deserve all the praise.
1. Hockey: Wayne Gretzky
![wayne gretzky](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Wayne-Gretsky.jpg)
This is the only sport where very few contributors can argue against a single athlete. He retired with at least 61 NHL records, many of which he still holds.
2. NFL: Tom Brady
![tom brady](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Tom-Brady.jpg)
![tom brady](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Tom-Brady.jpg)
Rival fans united to declare Tom Brady the NFL’s GOAT. This famous quarterback proved his status as a great player by leaving New England and leading Tampa Bay to the Super Bowl.
3. Cricket: Don Bradman
![don bradman](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Don-Bradman-2.png)
![don bradman](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Don-Bradman-2.png)
Don Bradman, another sportsman who united the community, fell four runs short of achieving a perfect average of 100 in Test cricket. Seventy-five years later, he is still far ahead of his successors.
4. Golf: Tiger Woods
![tiger woods](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tiger-Woods.jpg)
![tiger woods](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Tiger-Woods.jpg)
Tiger was arguably the best golfer of the 2000s, but is he the best golfer of all time? He holds 15 major wins, but unscheduled time off the course has affected his ability to win a title, and there is still time left to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 wins. do not have.
5. MotoGP: Valentino Rossi
![Valentino Rossi](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Valentino-Rossi.jpg)
![Valentino Rossi](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Valentino-Rossi.jpg)
Valentino Rossi is widely hailed as the GOAT, but this choice is debatable. Giacomo Agostini has won eight top-class world championships, while Rossi has won seven times. Sportsmanship may have something to do with Rossi’s status.
6. Greco-Roman Wrestling: Alexander Karelin
![Alexander Karelin](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Alexandr-Karelin.jpg)
![Alexander Karelin](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Alexandr-Karelin.jpg)
Alexander Karelin conquered Greco-Roman wrestling. It’s hard to argue against his selection, as he went six years without conceding a goal.
7. Soccer: Lionel Messi
![lionel messi](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Lionel-Messi.jpg)
![lionel messi](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Lionel-Messi.jpg)
The long-running debate focused on Lionel Messi and his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Who is soccer’s GOAT? Messi’s success at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina seems to have put an end to that debate. Messi is the best soccer player in the world.
8. Eating Competition: Joey Chestnut
![Joey Chestnut](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Joey-Chestnut.jpg)
![Joey Chestnut](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Joey-Chestnut.jpg)
World No. 1 Joey Chestnut once ate 76 hot dogs (with buns) in one sitting. Yes, you read that correctly. I can’t even fathom such a feat.
9. Tennis: Serena Williams
![serena williams](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Serena-Williams.jpg)
![serena williams](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Serena-Williams.jpg)
While Serena is the leading tennis player of our time, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King have more career wins. Only time will tell if any of these talented women will surpass Williams.
10. Snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan
![Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ronnie-OSullivan.jpg)
![Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ronnie-OSullivan.jpg)
Rocket Ronnie has won seven world titles, a record tied with Stephen Hendry. Some would argue that Steve Davis is just as talented. Again, O’Sullivan’s natural talent, sportsmanship, and improvement over time all solidify his GOAT status.
11. Billiards: Walter Lindrum
![walter lindrum](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Walter-Lindrum.jpg)
![walter lindrum](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Walter-Lindrum.jpg)
If you stay with cue sports, there are few arguments against this choice. Lindrum broke 57 billiards records, so the rules had to be changed and scoring limits put in place to limit his success.
12. Handball: Ivano Baric
![Ivano Baric](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ivano-Balic.jpg)
![Ivano Baric](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Ivano-Balic.jpg)
Multiple MVP winner Ivano Baric is essentially the undisputed GOAT of handball. A close second would be Diego Maradona.
13. Gymnastics: Simone Biles
![Simone Biles](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_9298.jpeg)
![Simone Biles](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_9298.jpeg)
Undoubtedly an amazing athlete, Simone Biles is the undisputed queen of gymnastics. However, Nadia Comaneci might have given Biles stiff competition if they had fought during the same era.
14. Surfing: Kelly Slater
![kelly slater](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Kelly-Slater.jpg)
![kelly slater](https://wealthofgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Kelly-Slater.jpg)
A dominant presence on the board, Kelly Slater is considered by many to be the undisputed king of surfing. Commentators quite literally refer to him as the “GOAT” when discussing the match.