ESPN has just published the list of the 100 best athletes of the 21st century, capturing great public attention. The results of the survey, with the participation of 70,000 people, have highlighted many sports legends, especially in football.

In the Top 50 list, only four football players have been mentioned. Zinedine Zidane is ranked 50th, Thierry Henry is 48th, and Cristiano Ronaldo is 13th. Most notably, Lionel Messi is ranked 3rd, surpassing Ronaldo by 10 positions.

Lionel Messi shared his feelings in an interview after hearing the news: “I feel very honored to be on this list, and even more so to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo, whom I have always respected and considered my greatest rival. This is wonderful recognition for all the effort and dedication I have put in throughout my career. “I want to thank all the fans and everyone who voted for me.”

ESPN’s list not only honors Messi, but also recognizes the contributions of many other sports legends over the past two decades. Below is the list of the 10 best athletes of the 21st century according to ESPN:

1. Michael Phelps (swimming)
2. Serena Williams (tennis)
3. Lionel Messi (soccer)
4. LeBron James (basketball)
5. Tom Brady (American football)
6. Roger Federer (tennis)
7. Simone Biles (artistic gymnastics)
8. Tiger Woods (golf)
9. Usain Bolt (athletics)
10. Kobe Bryant (basketball)

Messi, with 45 collective titles, 4 Champions League, 10 La Liga and 8 Ballon d’Ors, has confirmed his position as one of the best footballers of all time. His position at number 3 in this ranking is proof of the talent and constant effort he has shown throughout his career.