Top 20 Greatest Hispanic Athletes Ever

The world of sports has been greatly enriched by the talents and achievements of Hispanic athletes. From groundbreaking boxers to legendary football players, these athletes have not only excelled in their respective fields but have also inspired millions with their determination and skill. This list highlights the top 20 greatest Hispanic athletes ever, celebrating their remarkable contributions to sports history and their lasting impact on both fans and future generations.

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Tony Romo

Tony Romo, a prominent figure among Hispanic athletes, whose grandparents came from Mexico. Is one of the best quarterbacks in Dallas Cowboys history. He recently retired but still holds the team records for most passing touchdowns and yards. Romo’s impressive career made him a standout player for the Cowboys.

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Oscar De La Hoya

Oscar De La Hoya, a legendary figure among Hispanic athletes. Is known as the Golden Boy after his success in the 1992 Olympics. He is one of the greatest boxers in history, born in East Los Angeles to Mexican parents. De La Hoya won championship titles in 6 weight divisions during the 90s and early 2000s and was also a major draw in pay-per-view boxing events.

Tony Gonzalez

Tony Gonzalez, one of the greatest tight ends in football history, is a sure first-ballot Hall of Famer. The Mexican-American star is a 14-time Pro Bowler and holds the record for most career reception yards and touchdowns by a tight end. He also has more career receptions than anyone except Jerry Rice.

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony, whose father is Puerto Rican, is consider the greatest Latino basketball player ever. He’s a 10-time NBA All-Star, has won four Olympic medals (three gold, one bronze), and led Syracuse to an NCAA championship in 2003. His accomplishments set him apart from the rest.

Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest Hispanic athletes and players for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Was a 15-time All-Star who helped win two World Series titles (1960 and 1971). He is among only 31 players with 3,000 hits and was one of the first Latinos inducte into the Hall of Fame. Clemente tragically died in a 1972 plane crash while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Ted Williams

Ted Williams, the legendary Boston Red Sox slugger, was one of baseball’s all-time greats and Hispanic. A 19-time All-Star and two-time Triple Crown winner, he was born to a Mexican-American mother.

Jim Plunkett

Jim Plunkett, born to Mexican-American parents from New Mexico, led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories (XV and XVIII). He is also the only Latino to ever win the Heisman Trophy. Which he earned for his performance at Stanford after the 1970 season.

Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez, often called A-Rod, is considered one of the greatest baseball players ever and a notable Hispanic athlete, despite facing controversy. By the time he retired in 2016, the Dominican-American player ranked fourth all-time in home runs (696) and third in RBIs (2,086).

Ryan Lochte

Ryan Lochte, a Cuban-American, is a 12-time Olympic medalist, making him the most successful male Olympic swimmer after Michael Phelps.

Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion, proudly embraces his heritage. The MMA fighter has a Brown Pride tattoo on his chest, honoring his Mexican roots.

Tom Fears

Tom Fears, born in Mexico to an American father and a Mexican mother. Was a Hall of Fame split end and wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams. He helped the team win an NFL title in 1951 and was named to the NFL’s 1950 All-Decade Team.

Dara Torres

Dara Torres, born in Los Angeles to Cuban parents. Is one of the most successful female Olympians ever, winning a total of 12 medals throughout her career. In 2008, she became the oldest swimmer to make a U.S. Olympic team.

Rebecca Lobo

Rebecca Lobo, a Cuban-American basketball player, was one of the early stars of the WNBA. She won a national championship with Connecticut in 1995, a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, and was inducte into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Laurie Hernandez

Laurie Hernandez, the youngest on this list, won a gold medal with the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a silver medal in the individual balance beam event. Of Puerto Rican descent, Hernandez also won the 23rd season of Dancing with the Stars. Not bad for a 17-year-old!

Ivan Rodriguez

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Ivan Pudge Rodriguez is one of the greatest catchers in MLB history. A recently inducted Hall of Famer, he is a 14-time All-Star, 13-time Gold Glove winner, the 1999 AL MVP, and a World Series champion (2003 with the Marlins).

Joe Kapp

Joe Kapp, called the toughest Chicano by Sports Illustrated, is one of only eight NFL quarterbacks to throw seven passing touchdowns in a single game. Considered one of the greatest players in Minnesota Vikings history, he led the team to its only NFL championship in 1969.

Manuel Ortiz

Manuel Ortiz, born in Corona, California, was a Mexican-American boxer and a notable Hispanic athlete who became a five-time bantamweight champion. Named one of the 80 greatest boxers of all time by Ring Magazine, Ortiz was inducte into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.

Lefty Gomez

Vernon Louis Lefty Gomez was a starting pitcher who won five World Series titles with the New York Yankees (1932, 1936-1939). The Hispanic-American, whose father was from Spain, won all six World Series games he pitched in. In 1972, he was inducte into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown by the Veterans Committee.

Anthony Munoz

Michael Anthony Muñoz, of Mexican ancestry, is regarded as one of the greatest offensive tackles in football history. The 11-time Pro Bowler and former Cincinnati Bengal was named to the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

Fernando Valenzuela

Born in Mexico, Fernando Valenzuela is a key sports figure for the Hispanic Athletes-American community. He had one of the most successful rookie years in baseball history in 1981, winning both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards while leading the Dodgers to a World Series victory.

Valenzuela played an important role in mending the relationship between the Dodgers and the Mexican-American community in Los Angeles, following the bulldozing of Chavez Ravine to build Dodger Stadium.