Posted October 1, 20195 yr Welcome to the World Cup of Sportspeople! With the Women's Football World Cup in full swing just finished and the Men's World Cup being a resounding success last year, we'll be following on with a tournament, not of countries, but of the sports-men and women themselves. This contest is designed to select the greatest sportspeople from each continent through a number of rounds, selecting the best of the best, and pitting them together to show who we really think is the best sportsperson of them all! We've reached the Final!!! (at long last). There are 50 sportspeople left in play, and it's time to find out which one will be crowned winner of our World Cup. Here are the rules. - You can vote for as many sportspeople as you want. If you only want to vote for one that's fine, if you want to rank all 50 that's also fine. - However, the number of points you will allocate depends on the number of sportspeople you vote for. For example, if you only vote for 10 people, your #1 will receive 10 points. If you vote for all 50, your #1 will receive 50 points. This is so that people who rank more people aren't putting their higher votes at a disadvantage. - Each sportsperson has been given a short description of their major achievements to make it easier for you to make up your mind. There is also a list in the first post without the descriptions/flags - The winners of each head-to-head will advance through to the Final, whilst the losers will be eliminated. The Finalists Muhammad Ali (USA - Boxing - Won 56 out of 61 fights, won Gold at the 1960 Olympics) Franz Beckenbauer (Germany - Football - Captained Germany to a World Cup victory in 1974, European Footballer of the Year twice) Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia - Athletics - World Record holder for 5000m and 10,000m, most successful runner in World Cross Country Championships with a total of 10 titles) George Best (Northern Ireland - Football - Scored 207 goals in 586 games, regarded as one of the greatest players of all time) Usain Bolt (Jamaica - Athletics - 8 Olympic golds, 11 World Championships golds) Bjorn Borg (Sweden - Tennis - Won 11 Grand Slam tournaments, 64 career titles) Ian Botham (England - Cricket - Held World Record for most Test wickets) Don Bradman (Australia - Cricket - Test batting average of 99.94, cited as the greatest achievement by any sportsman) Bobby Charlton (England - Football - Held record for England's most capped player, held record for England's all-time top scorer) Johann Cruyff (Netherlands - Football - Won Ballon d'Or three times, received Golden Ball of 1974 World Cup where he captained the Netherlands to the Final)) Frankie Dettori (Italy - Horse Racing - Rode more than 500 winners, rode all 7 winners on Ascot British Champions' Day 1996) Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia - Athletics - 5000m outdoors World Record holder, won three Olympic golds and five World Championship golds) Novak Djokovic (Serbia - Tennis - Won Wimbledon 5 times, US Open 3 times, French Open once and Australian Open 7 times) Chris Evert (USA - Tennis - Won 18 Grand Slam titles, 157 career titles) Eusebio (Portugal - Football - Scored 733 goals in 745 matches, won Ballon d'Or in 1965, won Portugese League 11 times with Benfica) Mo Farah (England - Athletics - Won four Olympic golds and 6 European Championship golds) Roger Federer (Switzerland - Tennis - Won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, 120 career titles) Garrincha (Brazil - Football - Led Brazil to 1962 World Cup victory, first player to win the Golden Boot, Golden Ball and World Cup in the same tournament) Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia - Athletics - won two Olympic golds and four World Championships, broke 61 Ethiopian National Records) Steffi Graf (Germany - Tennis - Won 22 Grand Slam singles titles) Lewis Hamilton (England - Formula One - Won five Championships and 80 Grand Prix races) Thierry Henry (France - Football - Arsenal's all-time leading scorer, won two League Cups and one Premier League title with Arsenal and 1998 World Cup with France) Chris Hoy (Scotland - Cycling - 6 Olympic golds, 11 World Championship golds) Laura Kenny (Trott) (England - Track Cycling - 4 Olympic Golds, 7 World Championship Golds, 12 European Championship golds) Brian Lara (Trinidad and Tobago - Cricket - Holds record for highest individual score in first-class cricket, shares Test record of highest number of runs in a single over in a Test match) Carl Lewis (USA - Athletics - 9 Olympic golds, 8 World Championship golds) Jonah Lomu (New Zealand - Rugby - Scored 37 international tries, 63 caps) Lionel Messi (Argentina - Football - Won Ballon D'Or a record 5 times, won a club-record 34 trophies with Barcelona, most goals ever in La Liga) Bobby Moore (England - Football - Won Footballer of the Year in 1964, captained England to World Cup victory in 1966) Rafael Nadal (Spain - Tennis - 18 Grand Slam wins, 82 career titles) Martina Navaratilova (USA - Tennis - Won 18 Grand Slam singles and 31 Grand Slam doubles titles, 168 Singles career titles and 186 Doubles titles) Jack Nicklaus (USA - Golf - Won 18 Major Championships, 73 PGA Tour wins) Jesse Owens (USA - Athletics - Won four Golds at the 1936 Olympics) Pele (Brazil - Football - Scored 650 goals in 694 League matches, won three World Cups, all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil) Manny Pacquiao (Philippines - Boxing - Won 61 of 70 fights, eight-division world champion) Michael Phelps (USA - Swimming - Won 23 Olympic golds, 27 World Championship golds) Alain Prost (France - Formula One - Won four Championships, 51 Grand Prix wins) Steve Redgrave (England - Rowing - Won five Olympic golds and 9 Wold Championships) Ronaldinho (Brazil - Football - Won Player of the Year twice and Ballon d'Or once, won La Liga twice and Champions' League once with Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal - Football - Won Ballon d'Or 5 times, won Premier League 3 times and La Liga twice) David Rudisha (Kenya - Athletics - 2012 and 2016 Olympic champion, two time World Champion and World Record holder in the 800m) Pete Sampras (USA - Tennis - Won 14 Grand Slam titles, 64 career titles) Michael Schumacher (Germany - Formula One - Won 7 Championships and a record 91 Grand Prix races) Aryton Senna (Brazil - Motor Racing - Won three Championships, 41 Grand Prix wins) Garfield Sobers (Barbados - Cricket - Captained the West Indies from 1965 to 1972, considered to be cricket's greatest all-rounder) Mark Spitz (USA - Swimming - Nine Olympic golds, 5 Pan American golds) Sachin Tendulkar (India - Cricket - Ranked as second greatest Test batsman of all time, won 2011 World Cup with India) Bradley Wiggins (England - Cycling - Won Tour de France in 2012, won 5 Olympic golds) Serena Williams (USA - Tennis - Won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, won 72 career titles) Zinedine Zidane (France - Football - Won World Cup and Euros with France, won 1998 Ballon d'Or) Since there are so many people here, I'm giving you two weeks for this - so the deadline is 13th October 23:59. Happy voting!
October 1, 20195 yr Author Copy-paste list: Muhammad Ali Franz Beckenbauer Kenenisa Bekele George Best Usain Bolt Bjorn Borg Ian Botham Don Bradman Bobby Charlton Johann Cruyff Frankie Dettori Tirunesh Dibaba Novak Djokovic Chris Evert Eusebio Mo Farah Roger Federer Garrincha Haile Gebrselassie Steffi Graf Lewis Hamilton Thierry Henry Chris Hoy Laura Kenny Brian Lara Carl Lewis Jonah Lomu Lionel Messi Bobby Moore Rafael Nadal Martina Navaratilova Jack Nicklaus Jesse Owens Pele Manny Pacquiao Michael Phelps Alain Prost Steve Redgrave Ronaldinho Cristiano Ronaldo David Rudisha Pete Sampras Michael Schumacher Aryton Senna Garfield Sobers Mark Spitz Sachin Tendulkar Bradley Wiggins Serena Williams Zinedine Zidane
October 1, 20195 yr That's a really great list of 50 people we've ended up with. I will have to give some thought to my vote.
October 4, 20195 yr We have: Footballer- 13 Tennis Player- 9 Athlete- 8 Cricketer- 5 F1 Drivers- 4 Cyclist- 3 Boxer- 2 Swimmer- 2 Jockey- 1 Rugby Player- 1 Golfer- 1 Rower- 1
October 5, 20195 yr Author +50 Pele +49 Usain Bolt +48 Haile Gebrselassie +47 Don Bradman +46 Eusebio +45 Steffi Graf +44 Brian Lara +43 Serena Williams +42 Roger Federer +41 Michael Phelps +40 Chris Hoy +39 Michael Schumacher +38 Lewis Hamilton +37 Lionel Messi +36 Muhammad Ali +35 Rafael Nadal +34 Novak Djokovic +33 Chris Evert +32 Franz Beckenbauer +31 Bjorn Borg +30 Martina Navaratilova +29 Mo Farah +28 Cristiano Ronaldo +27 Steve Redgrave +26 Laura Kenny +25 Garfield Sobers +24 Bobby Charlton +23 Manny Pacquiao +22 Bradley Wiggins +21 Jesse Owens +20 Johann Cruyff +19 Sachin Tendulkar +18 David Rudisha +17 Carl Lewis +16 Kenenisa Bekele +15 George Best +14 Jonah Lomu +13 Bobby Moore +12 Tirunesh Dibaba +11 Alain Prost +10 Mark Spitz +9 Aryton Senna +8 Pete Sampras +7 Zinedine Zidane +6 Ronaldinho +5 Thierry Henry +4 Frankie Dettori +3 Jack Nicklaus +2 Garrincha +1 Ian Botham
October 5, 20195 yr Novak Djokovic Aryton Senna Serena Williams Bradley Wiggins Mo Farah Usain Bolt Michael Schumacher Mark Spitz Michael Phelps Roger Federer Alain Prost Chris Hoy Lewis Hamilton Rafael Nadal Cristiano Ronaldo Steve Redgrave Laura Kenny Steffi Graf Muhammad Ali Thierry Henry Carl Lewis Pele Ronaldinho Manny Pacquiao Garrincha Bjorn Borg Chris Evert Lionel Messi Martina Navaratilova Bobby Charlton Pete Sampras David Rudisha Bobby Moore Haile Gebrselassie George Best Eusebio Franz Beckenbauer Kenenisa Bekele Johann Cruyff Ian Botham Jesse Owens Garfield Sobers Zinedine Zidane Tirunesh Dibaba Jack Nicklaus Don Bradman Frankie Dettori Brian Lara Sachin Tendulkar Jonah Lomu
October 8, 20195 yr 50- Pele 49- Usain Bolt 48- Don Bradman 47- Jack Nicklaus 46- Roger Federer 45- Frankie Dettori 44- Bjorn Borg 43- Aryton Senna 42- Sachin Tendulkar 41- Rafael Nadal 40- Martina Navratilova 39- Haile Gebrselassie 38- Lionel Messi 37- Michael Phelps 36- Garfield Sobers 35- Steve Redgrave 34- Muhammad Ali 33- Zinedine Zidane 32- Pete Sampras 31- Eusebio 30- Jonah Lomu 29- Jesse Owens 28- Brian Lara 27- Chris Hoy 26- Mo Farah 25- Mark Spitz 24- Serena Williams 23- Cristiano Ronaldo 22- Novak Djokovic 21- Alain Prost 20- Tirunesh Dibaba 19- Franz Beckenbauer 18- Manny Pacquiao 17- Michael Schumacher 16- Laura Kenny 15- Lewis Hamilton 14- Steffi Graf 13- David Rudisha 12- Ian Botham 11- Johann Cruyff 10- Bradley Wiggins 9- Ronaldinho 8- Thierry Henry 7- Bobby Charlton 6- Carl Lewis 5- Bobby Moore 4- Kenenisa Bekele 3- Garrincha 2- George Best 1- Chris Evert
October 9, 20195 yr 50pts - Don Bradman 49 Sachin Tendulkar 48 Roger Federer 47 Usain Bolt 46 Pele 45 Muhammad Ali 44 Steve Redgrave 43 Rafael Nadal 42 Garfield Sobers 41 Thierry Henry 40 Martina Navratilova 39 Jack Nicklaus 38 Ian Botham 37 Novak Djokovic 36 Mo Farah 35 Steffi Graf 34 Lewis Hamilton 33 Carl Lewis 32 Brian Lara 31 Serena Williams 30 Cristiano Ronaldo 29 Chris Hoy 28 Chris Evert 27 George Best 26 Michael Phelps 25 Bobby Charlton 24 Michael Schumacher 23 Johann Cruyff 22 Bradley Wiggins 21 Aryton Senna 20 Pete Sampras 19 Haile Gebrselassie 18 Lionel Messi 17 Eusebio 16 Laura Kenny 15 Jesse Owens 14 Franz Beckenbauer 13 Mark Spitz 12 Bjorn Borg 11 Bobby Moore 10 Alain Prost 9 Garrincha 8 Frankie Dettori 7 David Rudisha 6 Manny Paqquiao 5 Zinedine Zidane 4 Jonah Lomu 3 Tirunesh Dibaba 2 Ronaldinho 1 Kenenisa Bekele
October 10, 20195 yr 1. Ali 2. Bolt 3. Federer 4. Williams 5. Navratilova 6. Redgrave 7. Hoy 8. Pele 9. Farah 10. Nadal
October 12, 20195 yr 40 points Muhammad Ali 39 Jesse Owens 38 Serena Williams 37 Mo Farah 36 Martina Navaratilova 35 Frankie Dettori 34 Roger Federer 33 Pele 32 Carl Lewis 31 Bobby Moore 30 Michael Phelps 29 Usain Bolt 28 Pete Sampras 27 Steve Redgrave 26 George Best 25 Haile Gebrselassie 24 Michael Schumacher 23 Mark Spitz 22 Steffi Graf 21 Bjorn Borg 20 Chris Evert 19 Bobby Charlton 18 Chris Hoy 17 Ronaldinho 16 Ian Botham 15 Rafael Nadal 14 Thierry Henry 13 Lewis Hamilton 12 Novak Djokovic 11 Johann Cruyff 10 Franz Beckenbauer 9 Jack Nicklaus 8 Cristiano Ronaldo 7 Zinedine Zidane 6 Aryton Senna 5 Lionel Messi 4 Alain Prost 3 Garfield Sobers 2 Bradley Wiggins 1 Manny Pacquiao
October 12, 20195 yr TOP Aryton Senna Muhammad Ali Usain Bolt Johann Cruyff Jesse Owens Pele Michael Schumacher George Best Cristiano Ronaldo Carl Lewis Alain Prost Don Bradman Steffi Graf Lionel Messi Eusebio Martina Navratilova Garfield Sobers Franz Beckenbauer Novak Djokovic Bobby Charlton Ian Botham Serena Williams Haile Gebrselassie Steve Redgrave Chris Hoy Rafael Nadal Mo Farah Chris Evert Frankie Dettori Sachin Tendulkar Roger Federer Bobby Moore Laura Kenny Pete Sampras Brian Lara Jonah Lomu Bradley Wiggins Bjorn Borg Kenenisa Bekele Garrincha Manny Pacquiao Zindine Zidane Ronaldinho Lewis Hamilton Michael Phelps Tirunesh Dibaba Jack Nicklaus David Rudisha Thierry Henry
October 13, 20195 yr 1 Johan Cruijff 2 Lionel Messi 3 Roger Federer 4 Rafael Nadal 5 Chris Evert 6 Bjorn Borg 7 Aryton Senna 8 Usain Bolt 9 George Best 10 Michael Phelps 11 Martina Navratilova 12 Steffi Graf 13 Mark Spitz 14 Garrincha 15 Pete Sampras 16 Franz Beckenbauer 17 Alain Prost 18 Jesse Owens 19 Michael Schumacher 20 Muhammad Ali
October 13, 20195 yr 50+ Muhammad Ali 49 Usain Bolt 48 Serena Williams 47 Haile Gebrselassie 46 Michael Schumacher 45 Pele 44 Cristiano Ronaldo 43 Mo Farah 42 Lewis Hamilton 41 Johann Cruyff 40 Steffi Graf 39 Don Bradman 38 Michael Phelps 37 Sachin Tendulkar 36 Jack Nicklaus 35 Roger Federer 34 Eusebio 33 Laura Kenny 32 Novak Djokovic 31 Franz Beckenbauer 30 Lionel Messi 29 Chris Hoy 28 Frankie Dettori 27 Bobby Charlton 26 Rafael Nadal 25 Aryton Senna 24 Martina Navaratilova 23 Bradley Wiggins 22 Brian Lara 21 Mark Spitz 20 Bobby Moore 19 Ronaldinho 18 Steve Redgrave 17 Chris Evert 16 Alain Prost 15 Zinedine Zidane 14 Carl Lewis 13 Jesse Owens 12 Pete Sampras 11George Best 10 David Rudisha 9 Bjorn Borg 8 Kenenisa Bekele 7 Garrincha 6 Jonah Lomu 5 Tirunesh Dibaba 4 Manny Pacquiao 3 Garfield Sobers 2 Thierry Henry 1 Ian Botham
October 16, 20195 yr 1st Serena Williams Bradley Wiggins Lionel Messi Muhammad Ali Aryton Senna Chris Hoy Johann Cruyff Usain Bolt Haile Gebrselassie Steve Redgrave Roger Federer George Best Michael Schumacher Mark Spitz Sachin Tendulkar Manny Pacquiao Tirunesh Dibaba Zinedine Zidane Kenenisa Bekele Bobby Moore Ian Botham Brian Lara Cristiano Ronaldo Pele Laura Kenny (Trott) Frankie Dettori Michael Phelps David Rudisha Bobby Charlton Jesse Owens Jonah Lomu Novak Djokovic Lewis Hamilton Alain Prost Martina Navratilova Franz Beckenbauer Carl Lewis Don Bradman Garfield Sobers Chris Evert
October 18, 20195 yr FAVE Serena Williams Michael Phelps Usain Bolt Steve Redgrave Roger Federer Michael Schumacher Aryton Senna Muhammad Ali Chris Hoy Steffi Graf Lewis Hamilton Carl Lewis Mo Farah Martina Navaratilova Cristiano Ronaldo Jack Nicklaus Thierry Henry Mark Spitz Chris Evert Bjorn Borg Pele Pete Sampras Bradley Wiggins Laura Kenny Bobby Charlton Novak Djokovic Ian Botham George Best Bobby Moore Frankie Dettori Alain Prost Manny Pacquiao Lionel Messi Franz Beckenbauer David Rudisha Rafael Nadal Zinedine Zidane Kenenisa Bekele Ronaldinho Garfield Sobers Eusebio Jesse Owens Johann Cruyff Garrincha Haile Gebrselassie Don Bradman Tirunesh Dibaba Brian Lara Sachin Tendulkar Jonah Lomu LEAST FAVE
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