The 100 Most Famous Men of All Time

Ranked by Wikipedia link data — the closer to #1, the more famous.

Cristiano Ronaldo sits at number one, ahead of Lionel Messi, Pelé, Ronaldinho and Neymar — the top of this list is dominated by football before anyone else gets a look in. Fame here is measured by Wikipedia link counts across languages, so it reflects genuine worldwide recognition. Scroll the ranking, then test your recall against the clock.

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  1. Cristiano RonaldoCristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains the Saudi…
  2. Lionel MessiLionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Major League…
  3. PeléEdson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname Pelé, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward.
  4. RonaldinhoRonaldo de Assis Moreira, commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho or simply Ronaldinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer who…
  5. NeymarNeymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known mononymously as Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking…
  6. KakáRicardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, commonly known as Kaká or Ricardo Kaká, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who…
  7. Zinedine ZidaneZinedine Yazid Zidane, popularly known as Zizou, is a French professional football manager and former player who played as an…
  8. David BeckhamSir David Robert Joseph Beckham is an English former professional footballer, the president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and…
  9. Kylian MbappéKylian Mbappé Lottin is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Real Madrid and captains the…
  10. Erling HaalandErling Braut Haaland is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester City and…
  11. Mohamed SalahMohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly is an Egyptian professional footballer who last played for Premier League club Liverpool as a…
  12. Sadio ManéSadio Mané is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
  13. Didier DrogbaDidier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a striker.
  14. Luka ModrićLuka Modrić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club AC Milan and captains the…
  15. Zlatan IbrahimovićZlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a striker.
  16. Son Heung-minSon Heung-min is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC…
  17. Michael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman, former professional basketball player, and…
  18. LeBron JamesLeBron Raymone James Sr. is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball…
  19. Kobe BryantKobe Bean Bryant was an American professional basketball player.
  20. Magic JohnsonEarvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is an American businessman and former professional basketball player.
  21. Larry BirdLarry Joe Bird is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
  22. Shaquille O'NealShaquille Rashaun O'Neal, commonly known as Shaq, is an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst…
  23. Stephen CurryWardell Stephen Curry II, also known as Steph Curry, is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors…
  24. Kevin DurantKevin Wayne Durant, also known by his initials KD, is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the…
  25. Giannis AntetokounmpoGiannis Sina Ougko Antetokounmpo is a Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National…
  26. Luka DončićLuka Dončić is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
  27. Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali was an American professional boxer and activist.
  28. Usain BoltUsain St. Leo Bolt is a Jamaican retired sprinter. Widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, he is an eight-time…
  29. Michael PhelpsMichael Fred Phelps II is an American former competitive swimmer.
  30. Roger FedererRoger Federer is a Swiss former professional tennis player. He was ranked as the world No.
  31. Rafael NadalRafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera, 1st Marquess of Llevant de Mallorca is a Spanish former professional tennis player.
  32. Novak DjokovicNovak Djokovic is a Serbian professional tennis player. He has been ranked as the world No.
  33. Tiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer.
  34. Babe RuthGeorge Herman "Babe" Ruth was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22…
  35. Jackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt Robinson was an American professional baseball player who was the first African American to play in Major League…
  36. Jesse OwensJames Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who made history at the 1936 Olympic Games by winning four…
  37. Tom BradyThomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football…
  38. Lewis HamiltonSir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British racing driver who competes in Formula One for Ferrari.
  39. Michael SchumacherMichael Schumacher is a German former racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1991 to 2006 and from 2010 to 2012.
  40. Ayrton SennaAyrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver and philanthropist who competed in Formula One from 1984 to 1994.
  41. Valentino RossiValentino Rossi is an Italian racing driver, former professional motorcycle road racer, and nine-time Grand Prix motorcycle…
  42. Eliud KipchogeEliud Kipchoge is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon and formerly specialized in the 5000 metres.
  43. Mo FarahSir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah is a British former long-distance runner.
  44. Manny PacquiaoEmmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao Sr. is a Filipino professional boxer and former politician.
  45. Virat KohliVirat Kohli is an Indian international cricketer and former all-format captain of the Indian national cricket team.
  46. Sachin TendulkarSachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an Indian former international cricketer who captained the Indian national team.
  47. MS DhoniMahendra Singh Dhoni is an Indian professional cricketer who plays as a right-handed batter and a wicket-keeper.
  48. Yuzuru HanyuYuzuru Hanyu is a Japanese figure skater and ice show producer.
  49. Shohei OhtaniShohei Ohtani is a Japanese professional baseball designated hitter and pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
  50. Tom HanksThomas Jeffrey Hanks is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most…
  51. Tom CruiseThomas Cruise Mapother IV is an American actor and film producer.
  52. Leonardo DiCaprioLeonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer.
  53. Brad PittWilliam Bradley Pitt is an American actor and film producer. In a film career spanning more than thirty-five years, Pitt has…
  54. Will SmithWillard Carroll Smith II is an American actor, rapper, and film producer.
  55. Denzel WashingtonDenzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor. Known for his dramatic roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous…
  56. Robert Downey JrRobert John Downey Jr. is an American actor and producer. His films as a leading actor have grossed over $14.3 billion…
  57. Dwayne JohnsonDwayne Douglas Johnson, also known by his ring name "the Rock", is an American actor and professional wrestler.
  58. Keanu ReevesKeanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor and musician. The recipient of numerous accolades in a career on screen spanning four…
  59. Tom HollandThomas Stanley Holland is a British actor. His accolades include a BAFTA Award as well as two Critics' Choice Awards nominations.
  60. Chris HemsworthChristopher Hemsworth is an Australian actor and film producer.
  61. Ryan ReynoldsRyan Rodney Reynolds is a Canadian and American actor, entrepreneur, and film producer.
  62. Hugh JackmanHugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor, singer, and producer.
  63. Morgan FreemanMorgan Freeman is an American actor, producer, and narrator. In a career spanning six decades, he has received numerous…
  64. Samuel L. JacksonSamuel Leroy Jackson is an American actor and film producer. He is one of the most widely recognized actors of his generation.
  65. Harrison FordHarrison Ford is an American actor. Regarded as a cinematic cultural icon, Ford's accolades include nominations for an Academy…
  66. Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, film producer, politician, and former professional…
  67. Sylvester StalloneSylvester Gardenzio "Sly" Stallone is an American actor and filmmaker.
  68. Jackie ChanChan Kong-sang, also known as Fang Shilong and known professionally as Jackie Chan and Sing Lung, is a Hong Kong martial artist,…
  69. Jet LiJet Li Lianjie is a martial artist, actor, and philanthropist.
  70. Bruce LeeBruce Lee was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, actor, and filmmaker.
  71. Shah Rukh KhanShah Rukh Khan, popularly known by the initials SRK, is an Indian actor and film producer renowned for his work in Hindi cinema.
  72. Amitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan is an Indian actor, playback singer, and producer who primarily works in Hindi cinema.
  73. Aamir KhanAamir Hussain Khan is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr.
  74. George ClooneyGeorge Timothy Clooney is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for his leading man roles on screen in both blockbuster and…
  75. Matt DamonMatthew Paige Damon is an American actor, film producer and screenwriter.
  76. Jim CarreyJames Eugene Carrey is a Canadian and American actor and comedian.
  77. Robin WilliamsRobin McLaurin Williams was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of…
  78. Charlie ChaplinSir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. was an English comic actor, filmmaker, singer, film editor and composer who rose to fame in the…
  79. Marlon BrandoMarlon Brando Jr. was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential performers in the history…
  80. Al PacinoAlfredo James Pacino is an American actor. Known for his intense performances on stage and screen, Pacino is widely regarded as…
  81. Robert De NiroRobert Anthony De Niro is an American actor and producer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors of…
  82. Rowan AtkinsonRowan Sebastian Atkinson is an English actor, comedian, and writer.
  83. Steven SpielbergSteven Allan Spielberg is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster,…
  84. Christopher NolanSir Christopher Edward Nolan is a British and American filmmaker.
  85. Elvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is widely regarded as one…
  86. John LennonJohn Winston Ono Lennon was an English musician, songwriter and activist.
  87. Paul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney is an English musician and songwriter.
  88. Freddie MercuryFreddie Mercury was a British singer and songwriter who achieved global fame as the lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band…
  89. Elton JohnSir Elton Hercules John is a British singer, composer and pianist.
  90. David BowieDavid Robert Jones, known as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter and actor.
  91. PrinceA prince is a male ruler or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family.
  92. Bob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major…
  93. Mick JaggerSir Michael Philip Jagger is an English musician, songwriter, and film producer known as the lead singer and founder member of…
  94. Bruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American singer, songwriter, and musician.
  95. Stevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris, known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer.
  96. Frank SinatraFrancis Albert Sinatra was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is…
  97. Louis ArmstrongLouis Daniel Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American jazz and blues trumpeter and vocalist.
  98. Bob MarleyRobert Nesta Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
  99. EminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive.
  100. Drake

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