Greatest British Sports Stars of All Time
The finest British and Irish athletes across every sport.
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The finest British and Irish athletes across every sport.
Sir Lewis Hamilton
The most statistically successful F1 driver in history — 105+ wins and 104+ poles.
F1 World Champion 2008 (McLaren), 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (Mercedes) · 104 race wins
Andy Murray
Three-time Grand Slam champion who ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's Wimbledon title in 2013. Won two Olympic singles gold medals — t
3 Grand Slams · 41 weeks at No.1
George Best
Manchester United's mercurial genius — European Footballer of the Year 1968 and arguably the most naturally gifted British player of all tim
201 career goals · European Cup 1968 (Man United)
Daley Thompson
Back-to-back Olympic decathlon champion — Daley Thompson's extraordinary all-round ability and competitive spirit made him the greatest Brit
Olympic Gold Decathlon 1980 1984
Jessica Ennis-Hill
The face of London 2012 — her heptathlon gold was the defining moment of Britain's greatest sporting summer.
Olympic Gold Heptathlon London 2012
Sir Mo Farah
Britain's greatest ever distance runner — four Olympic golds in the 5000m and 10000m and one of sport's most remarkable personal journeys fr
Olympic Gold 5000m, 10000m London 2012
Sir Chris Hoy
Six Olympic gold medals — Britain's most decorated Olympian at the time of his retirement and the defining figure of the British cycling gol
Olympic Gold 6x
Bradley Wiggins
The first Briton to win the Tour de France — and an Olympic gold cyclist across two very different disciplines.
Tour de France 2012
Nick Faldo
Six majors and the finest major championship record by a European golfer in history.
6 majors · 41 tour wins
Ian Botham
Beefy — Headingley 1981 and the greatest all-rounder England has produced.
5200 Test runs · 33.54 Test average
Rory McIlroy
Four majors and the most complete player of the post-Tiger era — finally won the Masters at 35.
5 majors · 26 tour wins
Ricky Hatton
The Hitman — Britain's most beloved boxer of the 2000s and a two-weight world champion whose fighting style, personality and connection with
WBA Welterweight Champion
Joe Calzaghe
The Pride of Wales — undefeated in 46 professional fights and one of the finest super middleweights and light heavyweights in boxing history
WBO Super Middleweight Champion 21 defences
Lennox Lewis
The last undisputed heavyweight champion — Olympic gold and unbeatable in two championship reigns.
41-2-1
Jonny Wilkinson
The drop goal that won the World Cup — the most pressure-resistant kicker in rugby history.
Rugby World Cup 2003
Gareth Edwards
The try against the Barbarians in 1973 — Gareth Edwards's score, launched from inside the Welsh half after a sequence of passing beginning i
Grand Slam 3x
Sir Jackie Stewart
Three world championships and the man who transformed F1 safety — Sir Jackie Stewart saved countless lives through his relentless safety cam
F1 World Champion 1969, 1971, 1973 (Tyrrell) · 27 race wins
Jim Clark
The most naturally gifted racing driver of his era — Jim Clark won two World Championships before his death at 32 in a Formula 2 race and wa
F1 World Champion 1963 1965
Kenny Dalglish
One of football's greatest ever forwards and managers — King Kenny who won six league titles with Liverpool as player and manager.
351 career goals · European Cup 1978, 1981, 1984 (Liverpool)
Gary Lineker
England's third-highest goalscorer and 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner, renowned for his clinical finishing and sportsmanship.
238 career goals
Sir Alex Ferguson
The most successful manager in British football history — 38 trophies with Manchester United including 13 Premier League titles and 2 Champi
0 career goals · Champions League 1999, 2008 (Manchester United)
Sir Steve Redgrave
The greatest Olympian in British history — five consecutive gold medals across five Olympic Games from Los Angeles 1984 to Sydney 2000. Diag
Olympic Gold 5x (1984-2000)
Mark Cavendish
Record holder for most Tour de France stage wins (35), surpassing Eddy Merckx.
Tour de France Stages 35 (record)
Rhys McClenaghan
Irish pommel horse world champion whose impeccable technique, fluid swing mechanics and gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics produced one o
Net worth $2m
Tom George
Olympic silver medallist at Paris 2024 in the men's pair — part of the new generation of British rowing excellence. His partnership with Oll
Net worth $3m
Katie Taylor
Ireland's greatest ever boxer — Olympic gold medallist, undisputed lightweight world champion and the fighter who made women's boxing a main
Olympic Gold 2012
Max Whitlock
Britain's greatest ever male gymnast — three Olympic gold medals on pommel horse and the first British gymnast to win an Olympic gold on app
Olympic Gold Pommel 2016 2020
Justin Rose
Britain's last male Major champion — 2013 US Open winner and Olympic gold medallist at Rio 2016, who turned pro at 17 and missed his first 2
US Open 2013
Anna Watkins
Olympic champion and world record holder in double sculls — one of British rowing's finest.
Olympic Gold (2012 double sculls)
Helen Glover
Britain's most successful female rower — two Olympic gold medals in the coxless pair with Heather Stanning, the first British women to win b
Olympic Gold 2012, 2016 (Coxless Pair)
Nicola Adams
Britain's most celebrated female boxer and a pioneer of historic significance — the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal in histo
Olympic Gold 2012, 2016 (first women's Olympic boxing gold ever)
Katherine Grainger
Five consecutive Olympic medals — the most by any British female Olympic athlete.
Olympic Gold (2012)
Anthony Joshua
Two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist who unified the heavyweight titles in 2019.
IBF/WBA/WBO Heavyweight Champion 2x
Jonathan Edwards
World record in triple jump — 18.29m that has stood since 1995.
Olympic Gold Sydney 2000
Torvill and Dean
The most celebrated partnership in the history of figure skating and British Winter Olympic history — Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean's B
Olympic Gold 1984
Sebastian Coe
Sebastian Newbold Coe — later Baron Coe — was born in Chiswick in 1956 and became, alongside Steve Ovett, the central figure in what is wide
Olympic Gold 1500m 2x (1980 1984)
Jude Bellingham
The complete modern midfielder — Champions League winner at 20 whose goals, leadership and maturity at Real Madrid have already placed him a
60 career goals · UEFA Champions League 2024 (Real Madrid)
Ben Chilwell
Attack-minded English left-back whose overlapping runs and delivery made him a key part of Chelsea's Champions League-winning side.
11 career goals · Champions League 2021
Phil Foden
Manchester City's homegrown genius — the most decorated English player of his generation and the creative heartbeat of Pep Guardiola's trebl
117 career goals · UEFA Champions League 2023 (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling
One of England's most effective attackers of the modern era, Premier League champion five times with City and FWA Footballer of the Year.
230 career goals · Champions League 2023 (Chelsea – squad)
John Stones
The ball-playing centre-back who grew into a Champions League winner under Pep Guardiola.
17 career goals · Champions League (2023)
Mason Mount
Chelsea's academy graduate who became one of England's most important midfielders of the 2020s — technical, industrious and capable of momen
283 career goals · Champions League (2021)
Jack Grealish
Dazzling English winger whose close control, creativity and flair make him one of the most entertaining players in the Premier League.
Champions League 2023
Tammy Abraham
Roma's record-breaking striker — scored the goal that won the Europa Conference League.
135 career goals · Champions League (2021)
Reece James
Chelsea's captain and England's finest right-back — persistent injury frustration of a truly special talent.
22 career goals · Champions League (2021)
Cole Palmer
Chelsea's match-winner — named Premier League Player of the Season at 21, the breakout story of 2023-24.
47 career goals · Champions League (2021 squad)
James Milner
The ultimate professional — a versatile, tireless midfielder who excelled across two decades and three of England's biggest clubs.
Champions League 2019
Steve Ovett
Half of the greatest rivalry in British athletics — his decade-long battle with Sebastian Coe produced records and Olympic drama.
Olympic Gold 800m Moscow 1980
Dame Kelly Holmes
The Athens double — 800m and 1500m gold at Athens 2004, achieved after years of injury and personal struggle.
Olympic Gold 800m, 1500m Athens 2004 (unique double)
Linford Christie
Britain's greatest male sprinter — Olympic 100m champion at 32, the oldest man ever to win the Olympic sprint title.
Olympic Gold 100m Barcelona 1992