Who are the Biggest Sports Stars in the World in 2026?

There are still a couple of months to go, but everyone is already talking about the FIFA World Cup.

At this very moment, German fans are at home discussing the tactical skills of Jamal Musiala, and how they’re almost definitely going to result in their team lifting the trophy; English fans are discussing Jude Bellingham, and how his leadership is going to make all the difference on the field; Brazilian fans are talking about Vinicius Junior, and how this is undoubtedly going to be his year.

Everywhere you look and listen, fans are praising their best players – the biggest stars in the football arena – and how they might inspire their nations to glory. There is a lot to choose from, of course. Being one of the biggest sports in the world, football has some of the biggest sports stars in the world, but it has got us thinking about the wider sporting landscape, and what other stars can stand atop that pedestal.

From football to cricket to basketball, there are so many sports stars that captivate millions of fans worldwide, many of whom we look up to and imagine achieving similar greatness. With that in mind, here are three of the biggest stars in the world right now, and what they might achieve in the rest of the calendar year.

Virat Kohli: A Cricketing Icon

Few athletes command the level of attention Kohli receives across the cricket world. Yes, he’s a huge star in his home country of India. He swings game odds on Puntit and dominates broadcasts on Star Sports. But even overseas, he’s a household name, bolstered by his performances in tournaments like the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Indian Premier League. Even in the later stages of his career, he remains one of the sport’s biggest icons, and fans will expect him to continue breaking records and delivering match-winning performances throughout 2026.

LeBron James: A Basketball Celebrity

Speaking of being in the later stages of a career, Lebron James is one of the oldest players in the NBA, and yet he’s still one of the best players on the court. It’s true that his celebrity has drifted outside of the basketball arena in recent years – with a recent stint in the revamped Space Jam franchise boosting his profile with younger audiences – but he’s still a serious athlete and competitor. Indeed, the rest of 2026 could see him make yet another NBA playoff run, potentially confirming him as the all-time great of the game – even above the likes of Michael Jordan.

Carlos Alcaraz: A Tennis Star

It was a funny time for the tennis-loving world five years ago. Greats like Federer and Nadal were on the way out, and even veterans like Djokovic were struggling to reach their previous heights. People were referring to it as the end of the golden age of tennis, but then along came a young man named Alcaraz, and it became clear that the golden age was only just beginning. Alongside other greats like Sinner and Gauff, Alcaraz is the new face of the game, with multiple Grand Slam titles already under his belt and likely plenty more to come. People still refer to him as a ‘rising star’, but if those accolades have already been achieved, there’s no telling how high this star might rise.

Conclusion

Those are three of the biggest sporting stars in the world, but there are many more. Whether it’s Kylian Mbappe in the football arena, Max Verstappen in F1, or Shohei Ohtani in baseball, there are so many icons that we can admire and look up to, and we simply can’t wait to see what they might achieve next.