A player who can legitimately be referred to as a superstar emerges roughly once every generation. A player like this was Larry Bird. Bird’s Personal Life On December 7, 1956, Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana. He was reared in French Lick, a nearby community, where he quickly became a basketball prodigy. By the time he graduated in 1974 from Springs Valley High School in French Lick, Bird had played an important role on the team and established himself as its all-time top scorer. Bird received an athletic scholarship to Indiana University in recognition of his basketball prowess, where he would play for famed coach Bob Knight. The quick-drawing forward withdrew from school due to his concerns about the vastness of the Hoosier campus and enrolled at Indiana State the next year.                                 His Career Because of Larry's outstanding performances while representing his school, Indiana University became interested in him. It gave him a scholarship and a chance to play for their team while being coached by Bob Knight, the best coach at the time. The squad made their first NCAA tournament berth under his direction. The competition significantly influenced Larry's career. Despite losing the championship, Larry's outstanding performance earned him player of the year honors. Larry's big break came in 1978 when he was selected to play with the "Boston Celtics." Larry chose to play for Indiana State's final season despite declining the offer. He kept on playing for the "Sycamores," helping them to the NCAA championship game. In addition to being chosen to the All-Star Squad and winning Rookie of the Year, Larry helped the team reach new heights. He helped the squad advance by helping them win 32 games overall while averaging 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. After several losses, the squad eventually prevailed, defeating the "Houston Rockets" in the title game. In 1982, Larry finished second for Most Valuable Player with a 19-point performance, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award. Larry had impressive statistics that year but could not get to the NBA finals. He missed quite a bit of time playing because of a heel ailment. Despite making a comeback in 1989, his health failed him once more. Larry participated in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics for the US basketball team and brought home a gold medal. The retirement of Larry was announced on August 18, 1992. One of the all-time best basketball players is considered to be Bird. He was selected as one of the NBA's Top 50 players in 1996 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, highlighting his significance to the sport's history. Only five other basketball players were ranked higher than him on ESPN SportsCentury's Top 50 athletes of the 20th century in 1999.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a Swede who plays for AC Milan, is 41 years old and is still producing at a high level. Zlatan, the highest goal scorer for the Swedish national team with 62 goals, is a realistic goal striker. Ibrahimović’s Personal Life Sefik Ibrahimovic and Jurka Gravic, two Muslim Bosnian immigrants, welcomed Zlatan Ibrahimovic into the world on October 3, 1981, in Malmo, Sweden. The family lacked essentials and lived in abject poverty. Even worse, Zlatan's parents split up when he was only two years old. Nevertheless, the family could make enough money to give Zlatan a good upbringing while he was growing up. Zlatan began playing football when he received a set of football boots for his birthday at 6. That was in the late 1980s, and as Zlatan grew older, he continued to develop physically and mentally to play for his country's team in the future. He was a bully at school and engaged in thefts, which he subsequently admitted to and claimed he committed because he was fascinated with bicycles and would steal them anytime he had the opportunity. Zlatan began playing for Malmo BI and FBK Balkan as a youngster. He began participating in the local club Malmo FF games as a teenager. Despite his skill at the sport, he could not support himself and decided to give it up at age 15 to work at the docks. His boss pushed him to keep going, and the rest is history.                                 His Career Ibrahimovic made his professional debut for Malmö F.F. in 1999, and the following year, he assisted the team in making a move up to the top flight. The 6'5" attacker then joined the illustrious Dutch club AFC Ajax where he refined his formidable skills as a member of two championship-winning squads but also earned a reputation as a volatile player. Ibrahimovic joined Juventus F.C. after spending four years at Ajax and helped the Italian team win two Serie A titles. Ibrahimovic forced a transfer to A.C. Milan before Juventus was stripped of those titles after club management was accused of rigging games in the infamous Calciopoli incident. The tall striker enjoyed more success, winning three straight Serie A championships and his first league-scoring crown in 2009. Ibrahimovic, acquired by F.C. Barcelona in a trade involving Samuel Eto'o, shone for a talented team that won the Super Cup and the league. Still, he fell out with manager Pep Guardiola and spent the next season on loan at AC Milan. The seasoned striker showed he still had more to give by winning his third scoring title with a career-high 30 goals after joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 and helping the team win its first Ligue 1 championship in 19 years. Ibrahimovic joined Manchester United in 2016, and in 2017 he assisted the English team in winning the UEFA Europa League Final. The club announced in March 2018 that it had ended the senior player's contract, enabling him to move forward with his intention to sign with the L.A. Galaxy in the United States.  Ibrahimovic responded by posting the following on Instagram: "After two incredible seasons with Manchester United, it is time to move on because even the best things come to an end. Thank you to everyone who shared this chapter of my history with me, including the club, the supporters, the players, the coach, and the staff."

On Earth, there is no scarcity of murderers. However, the title of "baddest man on the globe" belonged to only one person. That person is "Iron" Mike Tyson, who in the ring more than lived up to his nickname. Tyson’s Personal Life In Brooklyn, New York, on June 30, 1966, Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson was born. Although Percell Tyson was named as his father on his birth certificate, Mike believes Jimmy Kirkpatrick to be his birth father since, at the time of his birth, Kirkpatrick was residing with his mother, Lorna Smith Tyson. Soon after, Kirkpatrick left behind Mike, his mother, brother, and sister. Living in high-crime neighborhoods early in his life exposed Mike Tyson to a criminal element. He engaged in little thefts and brawls. He frequently got into street fights, typically sparked by his high voice and lisp. He had been taken into custody more than 30 times by the time he was 13 years old. He was transferred to a juvenile correctional facility in Johnstown, New York, where he started honing his boxing techniques.                                 His Career In Albany, New York, on March 6, 1985, Tyson faced Hector Mercedes in his first-ever professional match. The 18-year-old eliminated Mercedes in the first round. Tyson's opponents were frequently wary of striking him due to his strength, quick fists, and impressive defensive skills. As a result, Tyson developed the supernatural ability to knock out his opponents in just one round, earning him the moniker "Iron Mike." Although Tyson had a wonderful year, it wasn't without tragedy: His trainer and adopted father, Cus D'Amato, died of pneumonia on November 4, 1985. Kevin Rooney replaced D'Amato, and less than two weeks later, Tyson kept moving up the heavyweight rankings. In Houston, Texas, he scored his thirteenth knockout, dedicating the victory to the guy who had helped him become a pro. Those close to Tyson claim that he never recovered from D'Amato's death and blame this on the loss of the guy who had once grounded and supported him for the boxer's subsequent actions. Tyson has a 22-0 record by 1986, with 21 of those victories coming via knockout. Tyson ultimately achieved his objective on November 22, 1986, when he was handed his first title match for the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship against Trevor Berbick.  In the second round, Tyson was knocked out to claim the title. He eclipsed Floyd Patterson's previous record to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20 years and four months. The success Tyson had in the ring didn't end there. On March 7, 1987, he faced James Smith to defend his title, giving him the World Boxing Association title to add to his triumphs. When he defeated Tony Tucker for the IBF title on August 1, he became the first heavyweight to hold all three major boxing titles. On February 25, 1989, Tyson entered the ring again to face British boxer Frank Bruno to defend his heavyweight championship. Later, in the fifth round, Tyson defeated Bruno via knockout. On July 21, 1989, Tyson successfully defended his title by KO'ing Carl "The Truth" Williams.

No soccer fan can ignore the name Pele, who is often regarded as the greatest player the sport has ever produced. Pele did not suddenly inherit the globe; rather, he had to earn his way through blood, sweat, and tears to the top ranks of athletes. Pelé’s Personal Life The first child of Joo Ramos and Dona Celeste, Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940, in Três Coraçes, Brazil. Pelé, who goes by the moniker "Dico," was born in Bauru and received his name from Thomas Edison. Pelé grew raised in poverty, while Joo Ramos, better known as "Dondinho," struggled to make a living as a soccer player. Nevertheless, by kicking a rolled-up sock filled with rags around the streets of Bauru, he discovered a basic ability for soccer. The origin of the moniker "Pelé" is unknown, but he remembered hating it when his friends initially nicknamed him that. Pele had three marriages and many kids; some were born outside of marriage. The authoritarian Brazilian government launched an investigation into him in 1970 due to suspicions that he had sympathies for left-wing political detainees. Pele was under investigation for distributing pamphlets requesting the liberation of political prisoners. He stayed out of politics following the probe. Teenage Pelé joined a youth team managed by former Brazilian national soccer player Waldemar de Brito. When Pelé was 15 years old, De Brito persuaded his family to allow him to leave home and try out for the Santos professional soccer club.                                 His Career A little over a year later, Pelé was the league's leading scorer. The national team was taken aback by his performance at the young age of 17. He wouldn't let you down. He scored significant goals in both the semifinal and championship games of the 1958 World Cup to help Brazil win it on his first outing in the international arena.  By this time, he had established himself as a superhero in Brazil and was well-known worldwide. The Brazilian government recognized him as a "national treasure," which improved his standing there and prohibited him from taking advantage of opportunities nationwide. Pele eventually scored more than 1,000 goals in games for pay. On November 19, 1969, at Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium, he scored his 1000th goal. It led to celebrations throughout the world. He has one of the best strike rates in games against other countries. He scored 77 goals in 92 international games. Pele had a goal-scoring ratio of 0.94 overall, scoring 1,283 goals in 1,366 games. Pele made his professional debut for Santos at 16 in the domestic league. Until the 1972–73 season, he was a player for Santos in the Brazilian league. The wealthy US league was where Pele completed his career. After signing in 1975, he participated in three seasons for the New York Cosmos. In 1977, the year of his retirement, he guided the New York Cosmos to the US championship.

Muhammad Ali, was a heavyweight boxing champion, had a phenomenal 56-win record. He was well known for publicly opposing the Vietnam War in a valiant manner. Ali’s Personal Life Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on January 17, 1942. His full name at birth was Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. Young Clay showed early on that he had no fear of any fight, whether it took place inside or outside of the ring. When he was a child, he had to deal with racial prejudice and discrimination in the divided South. A strange turn of events led Clay to discover his boxing aptitude at 12. Clay informed policeman Joe Martin that he wanted to beat up the bike thief after they took his bike. Martin reportedly warned him at the time, "Well, you better learn how to fight before you start challenging others." Martin served as a police officer and a local gym's boxing instructor. Clay began training with Martin to learn how to spar, and his boxing career soon followed. In 1954, he competed in his first amateur match and prevailed via split decision. In 1956, Clay went on to win the novice light heavyweight Golden Gloves competition. Three years later, he won the Amateur Athletic Union's national light heavyweight championship as well as the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions                               . His Career After winning his 19 fights, including 15 knockouts, Clay earned his first title opportunity on February 25, 1964, against then-reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (1932-1970). The 22-year-old Clay continuously teased Liston before the fight, pledging to "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," and forecasting a knockout even though he was a 7-1 underdog when he arrived in Miami Beach, Florida.  At the beginning of the seventh round, when Liston didn't answer the bell, Clay was declared the world's heavyweight champion. The new champion exclaimed, "I am the greatest!" in the ring after the match. Clay, spotted in Miami with controversial Nation of Islam member Malcolm X (1925–1955), confirmed the rumors of his conversion to Islam at a news conference the following morning. Elijah Muhammad, the founder of the Nation of Islam (1897–1975), gave Clay the name Muhammad Ali on March 6, 1964. On May 25, 1965, Ali defeated Liston in the first round of their rematch to clinch the heavyweight championship, and he went on to successfully defend it eight more times. Ali then showed up on April 28, 1967, for his scheduled induction into the U.S. Armed Forces despite the ongoing Vietnam War. He objected to serving, citing his religious convictions. As soon as they took Ali into custody, the New York State Athletic Commission canceled his heavyweight title and suspended his boxing license. Ali was found guilty of draught evasion and given a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, but he was allowed to remain free while the case was being appealed. Ali's popularity fell due to what many believed to be his draught evasion. Ali, suspended from boxing for three years, protested the Vietnam War on college campuses. Support for Ali grew as public opinion toward the war shifted. His boxing license was restored by the New York State Supreme Court in 1970, and his conviction was unanimously overturned by the United States Supreme Court the following year.

Undoubtedly, Michael Phelps is the best Olympian ever to compete. According to some, Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci have a claim. But when it comes to the sheer quantity of medals won, Michael Phelps is the undisputed champion. Even though Phelps competes in a sport where very talented athletes can win gold medals over various distances and strokes, his accomplishments far exceed those of any other competitor. Phelps has a total of 28 medals; his 23 gold medals are more than double the amount of his closest competitors, and other swimmers haven't racked up absurdly high totals either. No other swimmer in the world has won more than six gold medals except Spitz, Matt Biondi (USA, eight golds), and Jenny Thompson (USA, eight golds). Phelps’s Personal Life On June 30, 1985, Michael Fred Phelps was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His two older sisters, Whitney and Hilary, are both swimmers. As a child, Michael struggled with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). To help him burn off some energy, his parents encouraged him to take up swimming. And his sisters already enjoyed swimming. Michael excelled at swimming right away and, by the age of 10, was setting records. Because of his talent, he was only 15 when he earned a spot in the 2000 Olympics. Michael was a student at Michigan University. He declined to swim for them because Speedo had already given him a professional endorsement.                                 His Career Tom Malchow and Tom Dolan's performances at the Summer Olympics of 1996 significantly impacted Phelps. After that, Phelps became resolved to dominate the swimming world and began studying tactics under coach "Bob Bowman." He beat his record in 2001 at the World Championships, finishing in 1:54:58, earning his first international medal. Phelps broke five world records while he was just 17 years old, signaling a bright future for swimming. The swimmer announced his retirement from competition in 2012, although he promised to return. Phelps delivered on his promise with a standout performance in the 2016 Olympic Games, solidifying his place on five Olympic teams (becoming the first American to receive the honor) and winning one silver and five gold medals at the quadrennial competition. Phelps' victory made him the oldest individual gold medallist and the first swimmer to win four straight golds in the same competition. The swimming records of Mark Spitz, a world-class swimmer, were exceeded by Phelps, who currently holds swimming records in 12 age categories and has won 28 Olympic medals, the most ever won at an Olympics. The youngster, initially terrified of swimming in the water during his first swimming lessons, became an expert in the backstroke technique, winning many awards and breaking multiple records. This young guy has demonstrated through his accomplishments that only tenacity can take one to their destiny.

George Herman Ruth eclipsed the game, still regarded as baseball's pinnacle. He became one of the most well-known Americans ever living thanks to his career, both on and off the field. Ruth’s Personal Life On February 6, 1895, George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was raised in Pigtown, a rough area for working-class people, where his father operated a saloon. George's parents sent him to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys when he was young because he was getting into so much trouble. George acquired a strong work ethic at the reform school. He was taught trades like carpentry and shirt-making. Brother Matthias, one of the school's monks, encouraged George to take baseball. George had natural talent. George improved greatly as a pitcher, batter, and fielder with the assistance of Brother Matthias. The monks persuaded the owner of the Baltimore Orioles to come to see George play baseball when he developed such skill. At 19, George signed his first professional baseball deal after impressing the owner. Since George was so young, the seasoned Orioles players began referring to him as "Babe," and the moniker stuck.                                 His Career When George Ruth was 19, minor league recruiter Jack Dunn noticed him. Jack hired George for $600 to throw for the Baltimore Orioles because he liked how he did it. George was overjoyed to receive payment for playing the game he adored. Numerous rumors surround George Ruth's origin of the moniker "Babe." The most well-known is that George Ruth was one of Dunn's "babes," which was subsequently abbreviated to "Babe," when he showed up for practice because Dunn frequently brought in new players. Although Jack Dunn was successful in locating talented baseball players, he was also incurring losses. On July 10, 1914, Dunn sold Ruth to the Boston Red Sox after just five months with the Orioles. Ruth didn't get to play much in the beginning, despite being in the major leagues today. Ruth was even assigned to the lower league Grays for a few months to play. During her first season in Boston, Ruth met and fell in love with the young waitress Helen Woodford, who worked at a nearby coffee shop. In October 1914, the two got hitched. Ruth returned to the Red Sox in 1915 and started pitching. Ruth's pitching improved over the following few seasons, going from excellent to exceptional. Ruth threw his 29th shutout inning in a World Series in 1918. For 43 years, that record was held. Ruth's insistence on spending more time hitting and less time pitching in 1919 caused a change in the status quo. Ruth hit 29 home runs in the campaign, breaking the previous record. When it was revealed in 1920 that the New York Yankees had acquired Ruth for a stunning $125,000, many people were shocked (more than twice the amount ever paid for a player). Ruth was a member of the 1927 squad, widely regarded as the greatest baseball squad ever. He set a record of 60 home runs in a season that year, which remained for 34 years.

The son of Delores and James Jordan, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, is from Brooklyn, New York. As a young child, his family decided to relocate to Wilmington, North Carolina. The fourth of five kids, Jordan. While his mother worked at a bank, his father was employed at an electric plant.  Initially, baseball was his sport of choice, but after spending a lot of time on the basketball court, he developed a new perspective. When they played one-on-one, Larry, his elder and taller brother, consistently defeated him. Jordan’s Personal Life Brooklyn, New York, was the place of Michael Jeffrey Jordan's birth on February 17, 1963. Jordan, raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, acquired a competitive edge from a young age. In every game he played, he wanted to prevail. Jordan had a secure home environment as a child. Delores, his mother, was a bank teller before becoming a published author. James, his father, was a General Electric maintenance worker who later became a manager. James Jr., Larry, Deloris, Roslyn, and Jordan were Jordan's four siblings. James, Jordan's father, created a basketball court in their backyard and introduced his son to baseball. James was killed in the summer of 1993 while traveling from Charlotte to Wilmington, North Carolina when two teens shot him in his car during what appeared to be a heist. Before his remains were discovered in a swamp in McColl, South Carolina, he was reported missing for 11 days. After being tried for the crime, the teenagers were found guilty and given life terms for first-degree murder.                                His Career   Jordan joined Dean Smith's team-centered system, and his potential began to move in the right direction. He earned 13.4 points per game on average while shooting 53.4% from the field, earning him the title of ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) Freshman of the Year. The 1982 NCAA Championship, which the North Carolina Tar Heels won with his help, marked a significant turning point in Jordan's career. He was then chosen by the Chicago Bulls in the third round of the NBA Draft to play for them in the 1984 campaign. Jordan displayed moments of brilliance and rose to the status of the pin-up boy during the NBA's 1984 season. This incredibly gifted shooter and passer displayed his ball-handling prowess by slamming down free throws with respectable averages. Because of his large fan base, some of his teammates began to feel a twinge of envy, which resulted in a so-called "freeze-out" on Jordan when players refused to give him a pass during the game. But what set Jordan apart from others was his considerate and impartial stance toward all the problems at the time. Jordan suffered a major leg injury after his season victory, which kept him out of 64 games. On January 13, 1999, Jordan said goodbye to the basketball court for the second time during his incredible playing career. However, in 2000, Jordan made a triumphant comeback to the NBA as the owner and president of the basketball operations of the Washington Wizards.  Jordan was a member of the all-star team that included Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and David Robinson. With enthusiasm and swagger, he helped the national team win a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in 1984 and 1992. Jordan retired from playing basketball but kept up his athletic pursuits.  He started riding motorcycles, marketing his clothing company, and participating in celebrity charity golf events. He owns the Michael Jordan Motorsports professional motorcycle road racing team.

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova is a professional tennis player from Russia who is ranked third in the world by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). Sharapova became world No. 1 for the first time on August 22, 2005, when she was 18 years old, and she held the position for four weeks, from June 11, 2012, to July 8, 2012. Sharapova’s Personal Life Maria Sharapova was an athlete born on April 19, 1987, in Nyagan, Russia, to Yuri and Yelena. She and her father moved from Russia to the United States of America in 1994 to attend the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida. Her mother was forced to return to Russia because she did not obtain a visa and only joined them after two years. Maria Sharapova was not admitted to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy immediately because she was too young. She began her tennis training at the Rick Macci Tennis Academy before signing a contract with the International Management Group (IMG), a global sports and talent management organization based in New York.                                 Her Career Maria Sharapova, then seventeen, became the first Russian player to win Wimbledon, the prestigious tennis tournament held each summer in London, England. Wimbledon is one of tennis' four Grand Slam tournaments, along with the US Open, French Open, and Australian Open, and winners of these competitions have defeated the best players in the world. Sharapova, who had spent much of her life in Florida at a renowned tennis academy, was the third youngest Wimbledon champion in history, with a $1 million prize purse for her women's singles title. She was then signed to several product endorsement deals. By the summer of 2005, she had been named the highest-paid female athlete in the world by Forbes magazine's Celebrity 100 list. Maria Sharapova broke into the top ten for the first time in 2004. Maria Sharapova won her first-ever grand slam singles title at Wimbledon in 2004. Maria Sharapova defeated Serena Williams in the 2004 WTA Tour Championships finals. Maria Sharapova became the first Russian woman to hold the world's No. 1 ranking on August 22, 2005. With her French Open victory in 2012, Maria Sharapova became only the tenth woman to complete a Career Grand Slam. At the 2012 French Open, Maria Sharapova won her first grand slam singles title since 2008 and her fourth overall, becoming the sixth woman in open history to complete a Career Grand Slam in singles. She has five Grand Slam titles and 35 singles titles to her name. Maria Sharapova was the first torchbearer in Russia's 2014 Winter Olympics lighting ceremony. Because of her popularity and good looks, she has endorsed various brands aside from sports. Maria Sharapova has also expressed her support for the United Nations Development Programme. She received the ESPY award for being the best tennis player.   Maria Sharapova was named WTA Humanitarian of the Year in 2010, as well as WTA Most Fashionable Player (on and off the court) and WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player. She has been a brand ambassador for several well-known companies, including Motorola, Tiffany, Land Rover, Canon, Tropicana, Gatorade, Nike, Porsche, and Tag Heuer.

Kobe Bryant grew up in Italy and entered the NBA straight out of high school. Bryant was a dominant scorer for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships and the MVP Award in 2008. Despite injuries in his later seasons, In December 2014, he passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, and he retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final game.  Dear basketball won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2018. On January 26, 2020, Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gigi, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash. Bryant’s Personal Life Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant gave birth to him on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Shaya and Sharia are his two older sisters. He grew up playing both basketball and football and was a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and the AC Milan football team. His family relocated to Rieti, Italy, when he was six. His family relocated to Philadelphia in 1991, and Kobe enrolled at 'Lower Merion High School.' The basketball legend collaborated with the non-profit After-School All-Stars as part of the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. He also ran the Kobe Basketball Academy, an annual summer camp. After 53 years, his basketball participation helped 'Lower Merion High School win a state championship.                                 His Career Bryant was selected as a starter for the 1998 All-Star Game in his second season with the Lakers, making him the NBA's youngest All-Star at 19. The shooting guard then won three consecutive NBA championships with superstar center Shaquille O'Neal, and he was named first-team all-NBA from 2002 to 2004. He also signed multi-year sponsorship deals with Adidas, Sprite, and other major brands. Even though the Lakers struggled after O'Neal left in 2004, Bryant excelled. He set an NBA record with 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in January 2006, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history, and led the league in scoring the following year and the year after. Bryant was named Most Valuable Player in 2008, and he led his team to the NBA Finals, where the Boston Celtics defeated them. The Lakers won the NBA Finals in 2009, defeating the Orlando Magic. Soon after, Bryant attended a memorial service for friend and music legend Michael Jackson. The Lakers won their second straight championship the following year, defeating the Celtics. Bryant was a member of the United States Olympic teams in 2008 and 2012, winning gold medals with teammates Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony, among others.   Bryant put in a lot of effort to get back on the court after tearing his Achilles tendon in April 2013., but he fractured his knee just six games into the 2013-2014 season. The veteran All-Star passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA scoring list in December 2014, but his season was cut short for the third time in a row when he tore his rotator cuff in January 2015.

James Rodriguez is a professional footballer from Colombia. Real Madrid C.F. in Spain currently signs James Rodriguez. He is an attacking midfielder for Real Madrid and the Colombian National Team. He rose to prominence following a successful World Cup campaign in 2014. With six goals, James Rodriguez was awarded the FIFA Golden Boot. He is currently one of the world's best young talents. Rodriquez’s Personal Life Wilson James Rodrguez Bedoya and Maria Del Pilar Rubio gave birth to James David Rodrguez Rubio on July 12, 1991, in Cucuta, Colombia. His father was also a football player, having played for the 1985 U-20 and Colombian national teams. Wilson's athletic career was cut short due to injuries and a battle with alcoholism. James inherited his father's love of football and became interested in it at a young age. He used to play Pony Football with Academia Tolimense as a child, and by the time he was in his early teens, he was a very skilled player.                                 His Career In his mid-teens, he made his professional debut with the Colombian second-division club Envigado. The following year, he was promoted to Colombia's first division. He joined the Argentine club Banfield in 2008 and made his debut in February 2009. On February 27, he scored his first goal, a long-range strike, in a 3-1 victory over Rosario Central. He astounded his coaches and teammates with his skillful performances at 17 and became a regular first-team player, appearing in every Apertura 2009. He also became Argentina's youngest foreigner to score a goal. He did an excellent job throughout the year and quickly gained a large fan base. He became a highly sought-after player and was signed by Porto, a Portuguese sports club, in July 2010 for €5.1 million. In December 2010, he scored his first goal in European football in a 3-1 home victory for Porto over Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia. In the 2011-12 season, he reached new heights of success, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists for Porto. He was also the first Colombian player to win the LPFP Award for Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2011. In the 2012-13 season, he became a regular starter. He was instrumental in the 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League group stage. He also assisted on a goal in a 2-1 win over Estoril. He maintained his stellar play throughout the season, finishing with 13 goals and 15 assists in 32 appearances. In 2013, James Rodriguez joined French club AS Monaco for €45 million, making him one of the most expensive transfers in world football history. He made his Monaco debut in a 2-0 win over Bordeaux. During the season, he also assisted on two goals in a 2-1 victory over Saint-Étienne. In a 2-0 win over Rennes, he scored his first goal for the club with a free kick. Following the World Cup, he joined the Spanish club Real Madrid for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around €80 million. He made his debut in the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium, which Real Madrid won 2-0. In August 2014, he scored his first goal for Real Madrid against Atlético Madrid.

The Portuguese football legend has the most Instagram followers, but he is also a superhero for his charitable work. Cristiano Ronaldo's family supports him, but they can sometimes break his heart. When he was recently shown a videotaped interview of his late father conducted in 2004, a year before his death, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was moved to tears. Ronaldo’s Personal Life Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Madeira, Portugal, on February 5, 1985, to Jose Dinis Aveiro and Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro. His father worked as a municipal gardener, and his mother was a cook. Ronaldo was the youngest of four children, with a son and two daughters. Ronaldo was expelled from school after he assaulted his teacher with a chair. He had always been a keen footballer, and by the age of fourteen, he had decided to focus on becoming a professional footballer. Ronaldo had been playing for Androrinha since he was eight years old.                                 His Career Cristiano Ronaldo joined the club 'Nacional' in his hometown of Madeira in 1995, and after a successful trial, he joined one of the biggest clubs in Portugal, namely, 'Sporting CP.' In 2003-2004, Cristiano Ronaldo became Manchester United's first Portuguese player. He wanted his Sporting FC number 28, but at Old Trafford, he was given the No.7 jersey, which David Beckham and Eric Cantona had previously worn. Cristiano Ronaldo made his Manchester United debut as a substitute for Nicky Butt against Bolton Wonders on August 16, 2003, and United won 4-0. In his first match, Ronaldo received a standing ovation from the crowd and numerous compliments from United legend George Best. Cristiano Ronaldo's career took off in the 2006-07 season when he scored more than 20 goals for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. He established his importance on the field by assisting them in winning their first Premier League championship in four years in the 2005-06 season. Cristiano Ronaldo decided to join Real Madrid from Manchester United ahead of the 2008-09 season for the highest-ever signing fee of £80 million. Madrid announced a 5-year contract extension with Cristiano Ronaldo until 2015, paying him £11 million per year and including a €1 billion release fee, marking a significant advancement in Cristiano Ronaldo's career. Ronaldo was given the number 9 jersey in his early days at Real Madrid because Raul was the club captain then. Cristiano Ronaldo's life story changed when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid, thanks to his success at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has played 292 games and scored 311 goals in his eight years at Real Madrid. Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018 for Juventus for a fee of €100 million plus €12 million in additional costs. Ronaldo agreed to a four-year contract with Juventus, and the fee paid by the new team was the highest ever paid for a 30-year-old player. In his fourth game for Juventus, Ronaldo scored his first goal against Sassuolo, and he was sent off for the first time in his 154th Champions League match against Valencia.