The history of professional sports doesn’t date back centuries ago, as most organized leagues were formed in the 1900s. As a result, when it comes to icons of the game, the list is ever-expanding. In the last 30 years, we have seen many athletes emerge and become memorable in ways that we wouldn’t have imagined. Every player that became legendary in the 1900s has a rival in the modern era trying to catch their greatness.
After the heartbreaking news of Brazilian footballer Pele, passing away, fans have been putting out tributes. A Twitter account called Hoops Nostalgia found an incredible picture that shows some of the greatest athletes ever all posing for a picture together. It was taken in 1999 at Madison Square Garden.
Fans couldn’t believe that a picture where Pele, Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and more were rubbing shoulders is real. However, it is something that’ll make every sports fan smile.
This photo is literally GOATED.
Pele, Ali, Jordan, Montana, Brown, Kareem, Evert, King, Nicklaus, Russell, Elway and Holyfield all in the same room at MSG (1999)
📸: Walter Iooss pic.twitter.com/D8EspQ4THf
— Hoops Nostalgia (@HoopsNostalgia) December 29, 2022
🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐 ‘s everywhere…..
— mario elie (@marioelie1) December 30, 2022
Fitting that it was captured by the 🐐 sports photographer.
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) December 29, 2022
He was actually off to the side along with Tiger, Sampras, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Monica Seles and Carl Lewis.
— Hoops Nostalgia (@HoopsNostalgia) December 29, 2022
Tiger was present when the photo was taken, the other two stars hadn't fully ascended at that point. pic.twitter.com/ORr6LARDYD
— Hoops Nostalgia (@HoopsNostalgia) December 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1608607647393263621
Great photo. Every single athlete in it, except for one, either has, or had in the past, a case as the best to ever do it.
— Bill Caffrey (@NotDaveKingman) December 30, 2022
With respect to the others because they’re all great but Ali and Pele stand above. The only two that would be known from rice fields in China to jungles in the Amazon and every place in between.
— Count Gema (@count_gema) December 30, 2022
It's a herd of goats!😳
— Matt Mullen 🏳️🌈 🇺🇦 🇺🇸 (@PhyloSeFizer) December 30, 2022
— 🇬🇹 Primo Vergada 🇬🇹 (@Primo_1mx) December 29, 2022
All sorts of wow and amazing!
— Rick Olivares (@rickyolivares) December 30, 2022
This picture would have been lost to the archives if Hoops Nostalgia didn’t share it with the world. Seeing all the greatness in one photo really boosts gratitude toward these legends of their sports that paved the way for what we watch, enjoy, and love today.
What Would Be A New Age Version Of This Photo?
If this picture was to be recreated with modern athletes, the selection might be just as iconic if we look back on it in 25 years. LeBron James and Stephen Curry would easily be the representatives from the NBA world, while soccer would have Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Boxing would have Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather Jr., while some UFC stars could also make it here like Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, or even Amanda Nunes for her impact on women’s MMA. Every generation breeds icons and this picture is a great reminder to appreciate the ones that have helped sports become what they are today.
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