Next top pro athletes of the 21st century

We have spent the past week counting down our list of the top 100 athletes of the 21st century, but what about the next generation?

If we do another list in 2050, which current athletes who didn’t make it this time around are likely to be included?

We came up with a list of 25 — including some you probably already know pretty well such as Caitlin Clark, Justin Jefferson and Scottie Scheffler. There are a couple — Noah Lyles and Hezly Rivera — you will learn more about during the Olympic Games in Paris.

And we might be introducing a few folks — such as Kimi Antonelli, the heir apparent to lead the Mercedes F1 team.

Let’s dive into the next group of prospective icons across the sports landscape as their respective stars rise.

Key accomplishments: Four major titles, 4-0 in Grand Slam finals, one of four men in the Open era (since 1968) with four major titles before the age of 22.

Rafael Nadal had won three Grand Slam events by the time he turned 22. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic had won one apiece. But Alcaraz, who turned 21 in May, already has four. He’s already three-quarters of his way to a career Grand Slam, something Federer didn’t lock down until age 27. He has already won five Masters 1000 events, and he’s 19-1 in Slam and Masters finals. It was a big deal that Alcaraz won at least one match at each Slam in 2021, his age-18 season, but he has proceeded to raise the bar countless times. He has Djokovic’s speed, Nadal’s physicality and, occasionally, Federer’s artistry. He radiates joy, smiling after points won and lost and occasionally applauding his opponent. He’s just getting started. — Bill Connelly

Kimi Antonelli, auto racing

Key accomplishments: Racing in F2 in 2024 as a 17-year-old, 2023 Formula Regional Middle East and European champion, 2022 ADAC Formula 4 champion, 2022 Italian F4 champion.

Imagine being the driver entrusted to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton — now imagine you’ve not even turned 18 yet. That’s the situation facing Italian wonderkid and Formula 2 racer Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes junior and motor racing’s current “next big thing.” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, still sore about missing out on Max Verstappen a decade ago, is determined not to let history repeat itself with a talent he thinks might be generational. Italy has not had a world champion since 1953; if he lives up to the hype, Antonelli might be the driver to end that agonizing wait. — Nate Saunders

Key accomplishments: 2024 Calder award…