Honorable Mentions:
Tarik Skubal Baseball
Steph Curry Basketball
Paul Skenes Baseball
24. Patrick Mahomes Football - Kansas City Chiefs
After starting the year off strong winning Super Bowl LVIII, Mahomes has led the Chiefs to the #1 seed in the 2025 NFL playoffs but he hasn't done it alone... Mahomes would be MUCH higher on the list but has had a very mediocre season statistically. Let's see if he can stamp his spot on next year's list by winning the three-peat.
23. Josh Allen Football - Buffalo Bills
Ranking Josh Allen ahead of Patrick Mahomes is a plot-twist for sure but hear me out. Leading the Bills to 14 wins in their 18 total games in 2024, Allen was not only statistically great but perhaps the most electric and entertaining player in the sport. In those 18 games, Allen has 4,120 pass yards, 32 pass TDs and 6 INTs along with 677 rush yards and 15 rush TDs. Allen has done everything besides win a Super Bowl... Let's see if he gets it this year.
22. Kylian Mbappe Soccer - Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid/France
The French wonderkid turned face of Real Madrid this year has had a special first season with the club. Along with forward mates Vini and Bellingham, Madrid have been on fire and currently fighting for the top of the table. Mbappe has 10 goals in 16 games this season with another 2 assists. Mbappe had the world's attention on him after his free transfer this summer and after a shaky Euro performance, has somehow lived up to the sky high expectations.
21. Illia Topuria MMA - UFC Featherweight
Our first UFC star on the list and perhaps the first athlete some of you haven't heard of, Illia Topuria is a German-born fighter who is currently the UFC Featherweight and BMF champion. With a 16-0 record, (8-0 in UFC) Topuria had 2 championship fights this year and won both against fighters Alex Volkanovski and Max Holloway, who themselves are Top-15 UFC fighters of all time. Topuria finished both fighters in the 2nd and 3rd round respectively and is rumored to be going for a third-UFC belt in 2025.
20. Juan Soto Baseball - New York Yankees/New York Mets
Baseball's new $765 million-dollar man, Soto had his contract year this year as a New York Yankee and it was arguably his best ever. Helping his team to their first World Series since 2009, Soto set career-bests in Hits and Home Runs while being Top-3 in OPS, BBs, Runs and OBP. The new face of New York but for the Mets, Soto has cashed in on his early success, but will hope to be higher on this list for next season, but probably not as much as Mets fans hope he will.
19. Breanna Stewart Basketball - New York Liberty
Our first of 4 women on the list, Breanna Stewart led the New York Liberty to their first WNBA championship in team history while also having a stellar regular season. Her stats read 20.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.3 bpg, 1.7 spg and .458 fg%. Stewart also earned All-Star, WNBA 1st team and All defensive 1st team in her trulty remarkable season.
18. Vinicius Jr. Soccer - Real Madrid/Spain
Another member of the Blancos, Vinicius Jr. or 'Vini' has been the premier forward of Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2018. With 23 goals and 10 assists in 36 appearances for Real Madrid and 2 more goals in 3 caps for Brazil, Vini has been a point-scoring machine with his best traits coming without scoring, routinely torching defenders and making the smart pass. Madrid's front-3 may have just got Mbappe, but Vini continues to be the show stealer for this team.
17. Rodri Soccer - Manchester City/Spain
The Ballon d'Or winner in 2024, Rodri's play in Man City's midfield is irreplaceable, evident by Man City's results since Rodri's injuries. Not having played since late September, the rest of the Spaniards' 2024 was immaculate enough to win the 'best player in the world' award, even if Vinicius Jr. arguably should've won. The 28-year old
16. Saquon Barkley Football - Philadelphia Eagles
Wow the Giants messed up. Barkley left the Giants and signed to the division rival Eagles and hasn't looked back over 2,000 yards later. While he won't win MVP, he has been in the running all year and will almost assuredly win OPOY just one year after leaving New York. 2,283 scrimmage yards and 15 TDs and 125.3 rush yards per game are all career highs Barkley has set this year and also league leading. Barkley has long had unrelenting potential since joining the league and finally reached it this season, at only 27, the sky's the limit.
15. A'ja Wilson Basketball - Las Vegas Aces
Turning in one of the most impressive seasons the WNBA has ever seen, A'ja Wilson won her 3rd MVP award in 5 years. Putting up 27 points, 12 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game while leading the Las Vegas Aces to a 27-13 record was enough to earn her the first WNBA unanimous-MVP award since 1997. At only 27-years old Wilson's best years may be ahead of her with even more impressive seasons and possibly more championships in Las Vegas.
14. Nikola Jokic Basketball - Denver Nuggets
Nikola won his 3rd MVP award last season with one of his most well-rounded seasons of his career and is following it up with what would be his best season ever almost halfway through this year. Jokic and the Nuggets got bounced out of the playoffs in the 2nd round last year, severely hurting Jokic's case. If he had gone further or even won another championship, Jokic would easily be Top-10 or maybe Top-5.
13. Ashton Jeanty College Football - Boise State
27 yards. That is the only difference between the CFB record for rushing yards in a season and Ashton Jeanty's incredible 2024 campaign. Jeanty averaged 7 yards per carry and 185 yards per game in 14 games this season along with 30 total TDs. Topping it all off Boise State had their best season since 2011 and won the Mountain West Conference again.
12. Simone Biles Olympic Gymnastics
2024 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Simone Biles was one of the most impressive Olympians in Paris this past year. Winning 3 more gold medals and 1 silver, Biles won almost all of the U.S. medals in Gymnastics. An inspiration in more than just gymnastics, Biles is a beacon for Americans in every way possible. Her year as one of the greatest athletes on the planet surpasses the games as one of the ambassadors and inspirations of this nation.
11. Jayson Tatum Basketball - Boston Celtics
One of the most underrated players in the NBA, Tatum may also be the absolute best in the league and now has the hardware to prove it. One of the biggest snubs of all time was Tatum's lack of playing time in the Olympics after an MVP-caliber and NBA Champion season. Already back for a vengeance, Tatum is on pace to set career-highs in rebounds, assists steals and FG% while still averaging 28 a game. Consistently a Top-5 player especially in 2024.
Top 10
10. Alex Pereira MMA - UFC Light Heavyweight
Not only the biggest draw in the sport of Mixed-Martial Arts but the #3 pound-for-pound UFC Fighter at the moment. Pereira's stellar 2024 can be summarized when he broke the record of shortest time between 3 UFC title defenses in only 175 days or 3 title defenses in less than 6 months. Pereira's skill would be enough to make this list but his consistency to headline PPVs and have them sell higher than any other person in the UFC makes him Top-10 easily.
9. Travis Hunter College Football - Colorado
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter's 2024 season was crazy as he also took home the Biletnikoff and Bednarik awards (best WR and best DB respectively.) Hunter had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 TDs as a WR. As a DB, he let us 23 receptions on 56% completion percentage and allowed 1 TD with 4 interceptions. Hunter would be a First-Round talent at both positions and while he may not be the true 'double threat' in the NFL as he was in college, Hunter's 2024 season will be one we never forget.
8. Lamar Jackson Football - Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is the reigning MVP of the NFL and is following that up with another impressive season. In fact, a much more impressive season especially passing. A 121.6 passer rating will be the second-highest in NFL history while also leading his team to another AFC North championship puts Jackson in firm contention for another MVP award, which would be his 3rd at only 27 years-old, being the youngest to do so.
7. Torri Huske Olympic Swimming
The best American Olympian in Paris, Huske goes under the radar not being as known as Simone Biles, but her performance in Paris was even better. 5 total medals with 3 gold and 2 silvers in swimming, Huske even won the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly. Huske either won or contributed in 2 World Records in these games while also contributing to an American record in 4x100m freestyle relay. Huske was .001 seconds from placing in the 2020 Olympics and came back with a vengeance and was the greatest American Olympian in 2024.
6. Connor McDavid Hockey - Edmonton Oilers
McDavid has been the best Hockey player in the world for almost a decade now and in 2024 had another one of his best season. Putting up 132 points including 100 assists, McDavid's most impressive feat came in the Stanley Cup Finals with his team down 3-0, McDavid and the Oilers won 3 straight to force a Game 7. On his way to another MVP-like year in 2024-25, McDavid may not have won the 2024 Hart Award, but is still the best in the biz and #6 on this list.
5. Aaron Judge Baseball - New York Yankees
The AL MVP had one of the greatest all-around seasons in the sport since he had another in 2022 with an INSANE 10.8 WAR. To say that Judge still had an MVP-caliber season would be an understatement, his 10.8 WAR was accumulated through 58 HR, 144 RBIs, a 1.159 OPS and a 1.000 Fielding Percentage. Leading the league in HR, RBI, OBP, SLG and BB was an amazing feat. So why is he not higher? Judge's underwhelming performance in the Playoffs was very disappointing. A better performance or even a World Series win would've possibly put him at the #1 spot, but #5 still shows just how remarkable Judge was last year.
4. Erling Haaland Soccer - Manchester City/Norway
The best soccer player in the world and top goal-scorer, Haaland's 2024 calendar year was spectacular. A total of 49 domestic caps and 10 international, resulted in 49 goals on the year and an astonishing 5 hattricks. Manchester City's from may be disastrous as of late but with no fault from Haaland as he's continued to score. Adding 3 assists throughout the year, Haaland has especially signed for Norway's national team, with 11 goals and 1 assists in 10 games, leading the normally weak side to 17 points in those games. At only 24 years old, the future is bright for the Blues' striker even if that future could possibly be changing venues soon.
3. Leon Marchand Olympic Swimming
The best Olympian at Paris this year, France's Leon Marchand won 4 gold medals in Swimming this Summer. Marchand also went on to set 4 Olympic Records in the 200m Breaststroke, Butterfly, Individual Medley and the 400m Individual Medley. Marchand's 4 golds topped every Olympian in Paris, while achieving the 2nd most medals in total. The homecoming Olympic event was truly the grandest stage for the Frenchman and he lived up to it. While it's by no means the greatest Olympic performance ever, it will forever live in lore as the best of 2024, but only third on the list.
2. Scottie Scheffler Golf
Possibly the biggest year for the sport of Golf since Tiger Woods' prime was thanks to Scottie Scheffler. A gold medal, 8 PGA Tour wins, approximately $63.2 million earnings from PGA Tour competitions and a Masters Tournament Championship in 2024 ALONE. What a year for Scheffler who also had to deal with a controversial arrest during the weekend of the PGA Championship and still finished -13. The biggest name in the sport including names like DeChambeau, Schaufele and McIlroy, Scheffler brought a lot of much needed eyes to the sport with his outstanding play, but comes up just short on this list as the #2 athlete of 2024.
1. Shohei Ohtani Baseball - Los Angeles Dodgers
Finally, the best athlete of the year 2024 is Japanese-born two-way Baseball player Shohei Ohtani. His first year on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won MVP, won the World Series, led the NL in HRs, RBIs, OBP, SLG% and Runs Scored. Ohtani's 1.036 OPS was second in the league only to Aaron Judge and his NLCS performance was truly outstanding. Without throwing a single pitch, Ohtani showed his dominance from the plate with a .310/.390/.646 slash line with 54 HRs and 130 RBIs. Not to mention, Ohtani became the first player to have 50 HRs and 50 SBs in a season, and he ended with 54 shots and 59 swipes. An incredible season from April to October while winning awards and championships, Ohtani was truly #1 this year.
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-Z.D. - @drapeau_zak