Time: 2024-07-31
Just one driver from NASCAR and IndyCar has made ESPN 's list of the top 100 professional athletes of the 21st century . The list has been raising eyebrows on social media for several notable omissions and questionable inclusions . Perhaps that is the nature of any list of this kind , though international sports fans noted that 56 of the athletes were from the United States , and hugely popular sports such as cricket were only represented by one player . Auto racing was graced with three entries , but only one of those raced in US series full - time.
Jimmie Johnson , the seven - time NASCAR Cup Series champion , came in at 47th on ESPN 's list of the top sportspeople of the 21st century . Reporter Ryan McGee highlighted Johnson 's mind - bending accomplishment of winning Cups despite a seemingly rigged system . Fans were quick to question where other seven - time world champions ranked . F1 's Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton made the list , but only in 29th and 19th respectively . The omission of IndyCar six - time champion Scott Dixon was described as ' negligence ' and ' pretty tragic'.
Johnson 's most mind - bending accomplishment is that he won those Cups even as the system that awarded them was seemingly and repeatedly rigged against him . The paddock called it ' Jimmie Proofing ' as his septet of titles were earned via three different points systems and four postseason format variations , all while steering three wildly different generations of race cars . Meanwhile , he somehow has remained true to his SoCal desert town , trailer park roots -- as kind and humble as he was fast and unbeatable.
Interesting to see Jimmie Johnson 47th on ESPN 's 21st century athletes list . For a 7 - time champ , you wonder if that 's the respect he deserves . How would other sports 7 - time champs rank ? F1 's Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton made the list , but only in 29th and 19th respectively . The omission of IndyCar six - time champion Scott Dixon was described as ' negligence ' and ' pretty tragic ' . Ranked in the spaces immediately ahead of Johnson are baseball stars Max Scherzer and David Ortiz . He is marginally ahead of soccer icons Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane.
Only one US auto racer made the top 100 list . Jimmie Johnson , the sole US entry on ESPN 's list , has left fans questioning the rankings of other seven - time world champions . Swimming 's Michael Phelps , tennis ' Serena Williams , and soccer GOAT Lionel Messi made up the top three . NASCAR champion issues destiny verdict as IndyCar return teased . Fans react to Danica Patrick firing HOAX . Brad Pitt F1 movie set to feature ICONIC US race despite controversy.
Business
