Greatest South American Sports Stars
The greatest South American athletes in history — from Pelé and Maradona to Ayrton Senna, Roger Federer and Gabriela Sabatini.
Advertisement
The greatest South American athletes in history — from Pelé and Maradona to Ayrton Senna, Roger Federer and Gabriela Sabatini.
Pelé
Three-time World Cup winner widely considered the greatest footballer of all time. Scored 757 career goals for Santos and Brazil.
757 career goals · FIFA World Cup 1958, 1962, 1970
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona was born in Villa Fiorito, a shantytown on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, in 1960, and rose through sheer talent and
345 career goals · FIFA World Cup 1986
Lionel Messi
The greatest footballer who ever lived — eight Ballon d'Or awards, a World Cup, four Champions Leagues and 800+ career goals at Barcelona, P
838 career goals · Champions League 4x (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015) (Barcelona)
Ronaldinho
The most joyful footballer who ever played — two Ballon d'Or, a World Cup and the Barcelona performance that made Real Madrid fans applaud.
233 career goals · Champions League (2006)
Ayrton Senna
Three-time World Champion considered the most naturally gifted driver in F1 history.
F1 World Champion 1988, 1990, 1991 (McLaren) · 41 race wins
Emerson Fittipaldi
Two-time Formula One World Champion from Brazil whose calm brilliance and smooth driving style brought Lotus and McLaren glory in the early
14 race wins
Nelson Piquet
Outspoken and fiercely competitive Brazilian three-time Formula One World Champion who won titles with Brabham, Renault and Williams and was
23 race wins
Gabriela Sabatini
Argentina's tennis sweetheart whose elegance and talent made her one of the 1990s' most beloved champions.
1 Grand Slams
Juan Manuel Fangio
Five-time World Champion with four different constructors — the master of 1950s Grand Prix racing.
F1 World Champion 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957 (record 5 titles until Schumacher 2003) · 24 race wins
Neymar Jr.
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior was born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo in 1992 and became Brazil's record international goalscorer, surpassing
443 career goals · Champions League 2015 (Barcelona)
Kaká
AC Milan's Brazilian maestro — Ballon d'Or winner in 2007 and the most celebrated midfielder of the mid-2000s.
195 career goals · Champions League 2007 (AC Milan)
Roberto Carlos
The physics-defying free kick specialist — four Champions Leagues and Brazil's World Cup winner.
116 career goals · Champions League 4x (1998,2000,2002,2014 honorary)
Rivaldo
Brazil's World Cup winner and Ballon d'Or holder whose bicycle kick goals and creative brilliance lit up the late 1990s.
382 career goals · Champions League finalist 1999 (Barcelona)
Romário
Brazil's 1994 World Cup winner and scorer of over 1,000 career goals — a natural finisher of almost supernatural efficiency.
743 career goals · FIFA World Cup 1994 (Brazil)
Zico
The White Pelé — Zico's technical mastery, free-kick accuracy and creative intelligence made him one of the finest Brazilian players never t
508 career goals · Ballon d'Or 1981
Radamel Falcao
El Tigre — the most complete centre-forward in world football before his knee injury changed everything.
339 career goals
Sócrates
The Doctor — Sócrates was a practising medical doctor who played football at the highest level and whose intellectual engagement with politi
22 career goals
Carlos Tevez
The Apache — Champions League winner and the most combative forward of his generation.
340 career goals · Champions League (2008)
Luis Suárez
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz was born in Salto, Uruguay in 1987 and became one of the most prolific and controversial strikers in Premier League
577 career goals · Champions League 2015 (Barcelona)
Italo Ferreira
World Champion and Olympic gold medallist at Tokyo 2020 — Italo Ferreira's aerial surfing is the most spectacular in the current professiona
WSL World Champion 2019
Richarlison
The bicycle kick in Qatar — Brazil's most passionate forward and Everton's greatest modern striker.
113 career goals · Champions League squad
Richard Carapaz
Ecuadorian Grand Tour champion who won the Giro d'Italia and an Olympic gold medal in 2019, one of the finest pure climbers to emerge from S
Net worth $3m
Manu Ginobili
The Argentine revolutionary — four-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medallist whose Euro step, fearlessness and extraordinary creativity m
4× NBA champion · 13.3 ppg career
Sheilla Castro
Brazil's most decorated volleyball player — three Olympic gold medals across a career of extraordinary longevity, combining explosive attack
Olympic Gold 2008, 2012, 2016
Giba
Three-time World Champion and three consecutive World League MVP awards — Giba is the greatest volleyball outside hitter in history.
World Champion 3x
Pablo Aimar
Visionary Argentine playmaker dubbed 'The New Maradona' by Diego Maradona himself, whose exquisite technique made him a global star at Valen
La Liga 2002, 2004
Javier Saviola
Explosive and nimble Argentine forward nicknamed 'El Conejo' (The Rabbit) who was one of Europe's most coveted strikers in the early 2000s.
Olympic Gold 2004
Iván Zamorano
Prolific and combative Chilean striker nicknamed 'Bam Bam' who was among the most feared forwards in South America and Spain during the 1990
La Liga 1995
Vinícius Jr.
Real Madrid's Brazilian winger — Champions League winner, Copa América winner and one of the most electric players of his generation.
159 career goals · Champions League 2022 (scorer in final), 2024
Julian Alvarez
Versatile and hardworking Argentine forward who won everything at Manchester City before a record move to Atlético Madrid.
Champions League 2023 · World Cup 2022
Bernardo Rezende
The most successful volleyball coach in history — eight Olympic medals and a World Championship dynasty.
Olympic Gold 4x (coach, both genders)
Guillermo Vilas
Argentine legend with the most clay-court titles in history and a record-breaking career spanning decades.
4 Grand Slams
Gabriel Medina
Three World Championship titles and a levitation photograph at the Paris 2024 Olympics that became one of sport's most iconic images.
WSL World Champion 3x
Gilberto Filho
Three-time World Champion and the backbone of Brazil's most dominant volleyball era — Gilberto is one of the greatest opposite hitters the g
World Champion 3x
Yulimar Rojas
Venezuelan triple jump world record holder and two-time Olympic champion whose extraordinary leaping ability, technical mastery and dominant
Net worth $2m
Gustavo Kuerten
Brazil's Guga — three-time Roland Garros champion and one of clay tennis's all-time greats.
3 Grand Slams
Felipe Massa
Consistent and popular Brazilian who spent his career at Ferrari, Williams and Sauber, narrowly missing the 2008 World Championship after a
11 race wins
Garbiñe Muguruza
A two-time Grand Slam champion of exceptional power and versatility — Wimbledon and French Open winner whose combination of serve, groundstr
2 Grand Slams · 4 weeks at No.1
Amanda Nunes
The greatest female fighter in MMA history — the only fighter, male or female, to hold two UFC titles simultaneously in different weight cla
UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion (dual weight)
Thiago Braz
Brazilian pole vault Olympic champion who produced a stunning world record-equalling performance to win gold in Rio 2016, giving Brazil thei
Net worth $2m
Bruno Rezende
Brazilian volleyball libero and three-time Olympic champion whose extraordinary defensive reading, passing quality and leadership have estab
Net worth $3m
Cristiane Justino (Cyborg)
The most feared striker in women's MMA history — the only fighter to hold world titles in UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce and Invicta simultaneou
UFC Women's Featherweight Champion
Maya Gabeira
The greatest big wave surfer in women's history — world record holder for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman (73.5 feet at Nazaré), a s
WSL Women's Big Wave Record (73.5ft at Nazaré)
Sofia Mulanovich
South America's greatest surfer — the first South American to win the World Surf League Championship (2004) and a pioneer whose title inspir
WSL World Champion 2004
Juan Martín del Potro
The Tower of Tandil — a devastating champion whose career was cruelly cut short by a wrist injury.
1 Grand Slams
Rebeca Andrade
Brazil's most decorated gymnast — Olympic gold on vault at Tokyo 2020 and multiple medals at Paris 2024 including all-around silver behind S
Net worth $2m
Alex Pereira
Poatan — two-weight UFC champion who stopped Israel Adesanya four times across kickboxing and MMA.
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (2023–present)
Wallace de Souza
Olympic gold medallist and one of Brazil's most decorated volleyball players — his blocking and attacking power anchored Brazil's national t
Net worth $3m
Sérgio Santos (Escadinha)
The greatest setter in Brazilian volleyball history — Olympic gold medallist at Athens 2004 and a key figure in the most successful period o
Net worth $3m
Anderson Silva
The Spider — 16 consecutive UFC middleweight title defences, the most dominant champion in UFC history.
UFC Middleweight Champion 2006-2013