We have spent the past week counting down our list of the top 100 athletes of the 21st century, but what about the next generation?
If we do another list in 2050, which current athletes who didn’t make it this time around are likely to be included?
We came up with a list of 25 — including some you probably already know pretty well such as Caitlin Clark, Justin Jefferson and Scottie Scheffler. There are a couple — Noah Lyles and Hezly Rivera — you will learn more about during the Olympic Games in Paris.
And we might be introducing a few folks — such as Kimi Antonelli, the heir apparent to lead the Mercedes F1 team.
Let’s dive into the next group of prospective icons across the sports landscape as their respective stars rise.
Key accomplishments: Youngest male goal scorer in Euro history, youngest player to make an appearance in World Cup or Euro semifinal, youngest player to play in the European Championship, first player under 18 with 10 goals in one of Europe’s top five leagues in a single season in the past 15 years.
When Lamine Yamal was 15 in 2022, there were already rumors about him as a gem of a player who would ensure Barcelona’s future would be safe. Fast-forward two years and he has already accomplished more than some players do in their entire careers, winning the 2024 European Championship with Spain and breaking plenty of records on the way. No wonder the Spain coach called him a “genius.” Yamal is drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi — both left-footed players with a similar style — and even more so after photos showed an infant Yamal with a 20-year-old Messi. — SherShah Atif
