Top 10 athletes since 1980

1. Tiger Woods 

2. Michael Jordan 

3. Barry Bonds 

4. Tom Brady 

5. Roger Federer 

6. Cristiano Ronaldo 

7. Lionel Messi 

8. Michael Phelps 

9. Lebron James 

10. Wayne Gretzky 

Bo Jackson. Bonds was a cheater

@I_Need_A_Detox

 Good list  top 2 can't be argued.... Bonds probably down a bit further, nothing to do with the juice though.  

Bo has to be on the list, along with Ken Griffey Jr........nix Bonds & the soccer players.

Agreed

Instead of 1 of those soccer players, you can substitute Lawrence Taylor

This thread has potential. Good one. Now you got me thinking back to my teen years.

Martina Navratilova

Bjorn Borg

Ivan Lendl

Boris Becker

JOHN MCENROE

u can substitute any of these Tennis HOF FOR Soccer Players. Dont know when Pele retired  but i would put him ahead of the Tree u got. Possibly all of the NY Cosmos

Mike Bossy

Mark Messier

Martin Brodeur

Too Many In All sports to Really Determine

Pretty Boy Money

Jonny Bones Jones

Love him or hate him Prime Time makes my list 

How Detox left Kobe Bryant off of his list totally mystifies me! I'd rate Kobe over Lebron any day of the week even without my Laker bias showing! 

A lot of great athletes the last 40 years, but I can't take any list seriously that leaves off Simone Biles or Usain Bolt.  They dominated their sports for a long time, and their sport are near the top of chart as far as athleticism goes.

And you should clarify whether you mean "most athletic" or "most successful athlete".  Tiger and Brady were very successful but neither is exceptionally atheltic.  But either way you define, you have to put Biles and Bolt on the list.

Manny Pacquiao...the man held boxing titles in eight different weight classes. 

I see some some soccer apathy above but gotta have Diego Maradona  above any other soccer player

could name another 20 but everyone would be like 

Usain Bolt for sure 

Rafael Nadal 

Serena Williams

others  Michael Schumacher & Lewis Hamilton    discussion on whether or not F1 drivers are athletes maybe needed

Sugar Ray Leonard   

other honourable mentions  Dan Carter, Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana (can you guess the sport) 

@I_Need_A_Detox

 First guy that popped in my head was Bo Jackson.

Barry Sanders needs a nod as well. Breaking ankles  before breaking ankles was cool 

Michael Schumacher is not on this list? C'mon now.

Adolfo Cambiaso as well. 

.....Carl Lewis. 

I'm gonna pretend you didn't suggest that, search.

Michael Phelps.

Laffit Pincay Jr...the man who broke Willie Shoemakers record for most wins by a jockey in thoroughbred racing 

Larry Bird 

Magic Johnson. 

Phil nickles.

John macenroe.

Larry Holmes 

Mike Tyson.

Sugar Ray leonard.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. 

Jimmie Johnson 

Big papi.  

Jonathon papalebon. 

Bode Miller.