• Jack Nicklaus, nicknamed the The Golden Bear, won 117 professional tournaments in his career, including a record 18 Majors. Getty
    Jack Nicklaus, nicknamed the The Golden Bear, won 117 professional tournaments in his career, including a record 18 Majors. Getty
  • Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, multi Olympic gold medalist and world record holder. Getty
    Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, multi Olympic gold medalist and world record holder. Getty
  • German driver Michael Schumacher also has seven F1 crowns. Getty
    German driver Michael Schumacher also has seven F1 crowns. Getty
  • The Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan was a basketball icon. Getty
    The Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan was a basketball icon. Getty
  • Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, known as The Greatest, was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. Getty
    Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, known as The Greatest, was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. Getty
  • Diego Maradona, World Cup-winning legend of Argentina and football fans worldwide. Getty
    Diego Maradona, World Cup-winning legend of Argentina and football fans worldwide. Getty
  • Pele of Brazil, a record three-time World Cup winner, and scorer of an astonishing 1283 goals in 1363 games. Getty
    Pele of Brazil, a record three-time World Cup winner, and scorer of an astonishing 1283 goals in 1363 games. Getty
  • Jon Jones, the former two-time UFC light heavyweight champion. Jones first held the title from March 2011 to April 2015, and then from December 2018 to when he vacated the title on August 17, 2020. Zuffa LLC/Zuffa
    Jon Jones, the former two-time UFC light heavyweight champion. Jones first held the title from March 2011 to April 2015, and then from December 2018 to when he vacated the title on August 17, 2020. Zuffa LLC/Zuffa
  • Jonah Lomu, became the youngest ever All Black when he played his first international in 1994 at the age of 19 years and 45 days. Playing on the wing Lomu finished his international career with 63 caps and 37 tries, and changed the game forever. Allsport
    Jonah Lomu, became the youngest ever All Black when he played his first international in 1994 at the age of 19 years and 45 days. Playing on the wing Lomu finished his international career with 63 caps and 37 tries, and changed the game forever. Allsport
  • Roger Federer's tennis are almost endless, but highlights include winning 20 Grand Slam singles titles, reaching each Grand Slam final at least five times and holding the world No1 1 position for 310 weeks. And he's still playing. Getty
    Roger Federer's tennis are almost endless, but highlights include winning 20 Grand Slam singles titles, reaching each Grand Slam final at least five times and holding the world No1 1 position for 310 weeks. And he's still playing. Getty
  • Baseball player first made his name as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. But what made him really famous was his work for the New York Yankees as a batter. Getty Babe Ruth on the field in his Boston Red Sox uniform in 1919 in New York, New York. (Photo courtesy Library of Congress/Getty Images)
    Baseball player first made his name as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. But what made him really famous was his work for the New York Yankees as a batter. Getty Babe Ruth on the field in his Boston Red Sox uniform in 1919 in New York, New York. (Photo courtesy Library of Congress/Getty Images)
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia, unbeaten UFC star who retired after his 29-0 win in Abu Dhabi, was ranked at No1 on the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings, and Fight Matrix ranks him as the No 1 lightweight of all time. Getty
    Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia, unbeaten UFC star who retired after his 29-0 win in Abu Dhabi, was ranked at No1 on the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings, and Fight Matrix ranks him as the No 1 lightweight of all time. Getty
  • Steffi Graf of Germany became the world’s No 1 tennis player in 1987, a title she held for 377 weeks over her career, winning 22 Grand Slams. Getty
    Steffi Graf of Germany became the world’s No 1 tennis player in 1987, a title she held for 377 weeks over her career, winning 22 Grand Slams. Getty
  • USA's Ed Moses won gold medals in the 400m hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals (122 consecutive races) and set the world record in the event four times. Getty
    USA's Ed Moses won gold medals in the 400m hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals (122 consecutive races) and set the world record in the event four times. Getty
  • American boxer Rocky Marciano held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956and finished his career undefeated, with 43 knockout wins from 49 fights. Getty
    American boxer Rocky Marciano held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956and finished his career undefeated, with 43 knockout wins from 49 fights. Getty
  • Serena Williams of the United States has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era, and the second-most of all time behind Margaret Court. Getty
    Serena Williams of the United States has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era, and the second-most of all time behind Margaret Court. Getty
  • Floyd Mayweather Jr has competed at five different weights, and is a multi-world champion with a 50-0 record. Getty
    Floyd Mayweather Jr has competed at five different weights, and is a multi-world champion with a 50-0 record. Getty
  • British rower Steve Redgrave won a gold medal in five consecutive Olympic Games, the only person to have done so in an endurance sport. Allsport
    British rower Steve Redgrave won a gold medal in five consecutive Olympic Games, the only person to have done so in an endurance sport. Allsport
  • Belgian Eddy Merckx belongs to an elite club of riders who have won the Tour de France five times, and he holds the record for the most Tour stage wins at 34. He also won the Giro d'Italia five times. AFP
    Belgian Eddy Merckx belongs to an elite club of riders who have won the Tour de France five times, and he holds the record for the most Tour stage wins at 34. He also won the Giro d'Italia five times. AFP
  • Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina, arguably the greatest footballer of all time. Getty
    Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina, arguably the greatest footballer of all time. Getty
  • American tennis star Pete Sampras was not the most exciting to watch, but his domination was complete, winning 14 Grand Slam titles before his retirement in 2002 - a record at the time. Allsport
    American tennis star Pete Sampras was not the most exciting to watch, but his domination was complete, winning 14 Grand Slam titles before his retirement in 2002 - a record at the time. Allsport
  • Quarterback Tom Brady has played in an incredible nine Super Bowls in his career and won six of them. At 43, he is the oldest active player in the NFL, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after nearly 20 years with New England Patriots, Getty
    Quarterback Tom Brady has played in an incredible nine Super Bowls in his career and won six of them. At 43, he is the oldest active player in the NFL, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after nearly 20 years with New England Patriots, Getty
  • British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates his seventh F1 world title. AFP
    British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates his seventh F1 world title. AFP

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Bolt, Messi, Ali, Khabib and other sporting legends Lewis Hamilton has joined - in pictures

The Briton has become a true great with his seventh F1 world title - but how does he compare to these all-time stars?

Dominic Hart

November 16, 2020

  • English
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There is no questioning Lewis Hamilton's place among the biggest stars sport has ever seen.

His record-equalling seventh Formula One world championship was secured on Sunday in Istanbul, and at the age of 35 he has time to take that achievement to new heights.

It's impossible to compare greats, but there have been many athletes who have dominated their sports.

To see a pick of the best of the best, swipe through the gallery above.

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