<p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr">The current era is witnessing a wide variety of sports, whether individual sports like tennis or team sports like football and basketball, each with stars who have made history and achieved exceptional accomplishments that have placed them among the best of all time. Millions around the world are searching for an answer to one question: Who is the best player in history? In this article, we highlight the best players in the history of football, basketball, and tennis—the three most popular and influential sports globally.</p><h2 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">The best player in the history of football</span></h2><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Football is the most popular sport in the world today, and throughout its history, many players have excelled, immortalized themselves in history and become popular icons for fans everywhere. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics has released its ranking of the ten best players in the history of the game, with Argentine star Lionel Messi topping the list thanks to his impressive career. </p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1060/1195;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/8ff93198-b033-45b8-a20b-f4e8f226d1a8.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Best player in World Cup history</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbisiali.com/news/article/dates-of-the-arab-teams-matches-in-the-2026-world-cup-qualifiers">The World Cup</a> is the most prestigious football tournament in the world. Dozens of players have excelled in this tournament, and everyone wants to know the best player in the history of the tournament.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbisiali.com/news/article/pele-brazilian-football-legend-and-king-of-the-round-ball-throughout-history">Pele,</a> the Brazilian national team striker, is considered the best player in the history of the World Cup, and this fact has cemented his status as a football legend.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> This is due to the achievement of this man, which is winning the World Cup three times in 1958, 1962, and 1970 AD. Not only that, but his unique talent was a major factor in that. </p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1080/1244;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/48305c77-3a4f-4af1-9d52-4e3694a478bb.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Most decorated players</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbisiali.com/news/article/how-messi-bid-farewell-to-the-argentine-fans-after-his-victory-over-venezuela">Lionel Messi</a> has had a career filled with achievements and championships. He is the most decorated player in the history of football, with 46 official titles. Here are his titles:</p><ul style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 10 Spanish League titles.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 4 Champions League winners with Barcelona.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 7 Spanish King's Cup titles.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 8 Spanish Super Cup titles.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 3 Club World Cup titles.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 3 European Super Cup titles.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 2 French League titles with Paris Saint-Germain.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> French Super Cup.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> League Cup with Inter Miami.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Fan Shield with Inter Miami.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 2022 Club World Cup with his national team.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Copa America in 2021 and 2024.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Finalissima Cup with Argentina.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> FIFA U-20 World Cup.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> 2008 Olympic Gold Medal.</li></ul><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Records yet to be broken</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The history of football has immortalized a group of records that have not been broken to this day, which are as follows:</p><ul style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Just Fontaine: He scored 14 goals in the 1958 World Cup.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Lionel Messi: He scored 91 goals in one year in 2012 AD, breaking Gerd Muller's previous record.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Pelé: The youngest player to score a goal in the World Cup, at the age of 17 years and 239 days in the 1958 edition. </li></ul><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1013/1168;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/6e691584-8083-4505-96a1-5c5543b2137c.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">The best Arab player in history</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Throughout the history of football, many Arab players have excelled. Currently, Egyptian star <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbisiali.com/news/article/salah-sets-new-records-as-liverpools-top-striker">Mohamed Salah</a> is considered one of the best, if not the best, and most successful Arab players, having reached the highest rankings in the history of the Ballon d'Or.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Despite this, there are many talented Arab players who have made history, including Majed Abdullah, Rabah Madjer, Hossam Hassan, Sami Al-Jaber, and Riyad Mahrez.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Why is the debate over the title of "best player" so different?</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> There is considerable disagreement over the title of best player in the world, due to different evaluation criteria. Some focus on individual performance and statistics, while others focus on team impact and collective achievements.</p><h2 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">The best player in basketball history</span></h2><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It combines skill, speed, intelligence, and a competitive spirit. The game has seen the emergence of distinguished players who have left their mark on the playing field. </p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1010/1114;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/570a5571-682c-4770-8b7f-e7fd79710c12.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Best player in World Cup history</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Michael Jordan is considered the greatest basketball player in history. He is an American professional basketball player who played for the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards, and won the NBA championship six times.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Most decorated players</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Bill Russell is the most decorated basketball player with 11 NBA titles, followed by Michael Jordan with 6 NBA titles.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Records yet to be broken</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> There are many records that have not yet been broken in basketball, including:</p><ul style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game in 1962.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA titles, making them the most successful team to win the championship.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The Chicago Bulls have the most wins in the NBA with 72.</li></ul><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">The best Arab player in history</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Medhat Warda is considered the best Arab player in the history of the game. He was named African Player of the Year in 1982, and the Confederation of African Football selected him as Africa's Player of the Century in 2008.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> There is often debate about the title of best basketball player due to different points of view. Some focus on statistics and titles, while others focus on historical influence and individual skills.</p><h2 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">The best player in tennis history</span></h2><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Tennis is one of the most popular individual sports in the world, and everyone wants to know who the best player in the history of the game is. </p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1015/1128;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/908b2a05-d07c-4495-a7f8-134e3973007b.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Best player in World Cup history</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Novak Djokovic is the best tennis player in the world and the only player in Serbian history to hold the top spot in the ATP men's singles rankings. He has also been ranked number one in the world seven times.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Most decorated players</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most men's Grand Slam titles with 24, tied with Margaret Court. </p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:945/780;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/f6b0b0a6-c709-41a1-b213-6d6a7e1bc313.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Records yet to be broken</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Hard-to-break tennis records:</span></p><ul style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbisiali.com/news/article/the-most-prominent-championships-and-records-of-rafael-nadal-the-tennis-icon">Rafael Nadal</a> 's Roland Garros numbers: Nadal is considered the "king" of Roland Garros, having won 14 titles at the tournament, an unparalleled record.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Steffi Graf's days at No. 1: Steffi Graf held the women's world number one position for 377 weeks, including 186 consecutive weeks, a record that no other player has been able to break.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Longest match in history: The 2010 Wimbledon Championships saw the longest match in history between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, lasting 11 hours and 5 minutes over 3 days.</li></ul><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">The best Arab player in history</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Egyptian tennis player Ismail El Shafei is considered the best Arab tennis player of all time, and the first Arab player to become a professional tennis player and reach international status. He has won six singles titles and reached advanced stages in Grand Slam tournaments, in addition to holding leadership positions within the International Tennis Federation.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> When it comes to the title of best tennis player, some focus on numbers, such as Grand Slam titles, while others focus on historical influence, popularity, and technical style. Hence the controversy.</p><h2 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">The best player in boxing history</span></h2><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Boxing is one of the most popular games worldwide, and there are many names that have emerged in this game and have become very famous. </p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:975/1213;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/b2b92eb1-63ac-4185-841c-bf6145c48193.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Best player in World Cup history</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Lennox Lewis had a 14-year career during which he suffered shock losses to Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall, but he managed to recover from each of them.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> In 1988, he won the gold medal at the Olympic Games, and his victories included defeating heavyweight boxers. </p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:788/601;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/175fe526-8706-42fa-ade4-4e539e20f18e.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Most decorated players</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao is the most decorated boxer in history, having won world championships in eight different categories.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Records yet to be broken</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Wilfred Benitez became the youngest world champion in 1976, when he won the world boxing title at the age of 17.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Henry Armstrong held the most titles simultaneously in different weight classes in 1938 when he held the featherweight, light middleweight and lightweight titles simultaneously. </p><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:941/1159;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/3577a868-134d-415e-99c6-29a7e800ae34.jpg" alt="The best player in the history of sports"></figure><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">The best Arab player in history</span></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Muhammad Ali is considered the greatest Arab boxer in history, having won the world heavyweight championship three times. He also reigned supreme for 20 years, winning 56 matches.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The debate over the title of best boxer stems from the fact that the process of choosing the best is a personal and relative matter, and is influenced by factors including the number of wins and losses, the strength of the competitors, the length of time the boxer has been in the sport, and other factors.</p><h2 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Legendary achievements that immortalized the players' names</span></h2><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> There are a large group of legendary achievements that have taken players in a group of different games, and we explain them below:</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">First: Football</span></h3><ul style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Pelé: 3-time World Cup winner, record goalscorer, surpassed 1,000 career goals.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Lionel Messi: 8 Ballon d'Or wins, World Cup and Copa America.</li></ul><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Second: Basketball</span></h3><ul style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Bill Russell: Holds the NBA record with 11 championships with the Boston Celtics.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Michael Jordan: He led his team to numerous championships and reached the pinnacle of success despite a rocky beginning.</li></ul><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="color:hsl(187, 48%, 51%);">Third: Tennis</span></h3><ul style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Novak Djokovic: Most Grand Slam titles won with 23.</li><li style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Rafael Nadal: Clay court dominance at the French Open, winning 14 titles.</li></ul><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Finally, we talked about the best players in the history of football, basketball, and tennis. These are popular games with a large fan base everywhere, and boast a group of names that have been immortalized in history.</p>