Sports Stars Shining Bright in 2024

2024 was a standout year for sports, with players from different games making a huge splash. While the NBA and NFL grabbed most of the headlines in the US, sports like hockey and Formula 1 got a big boost. Baseball also had a major story thanks to star player Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Some players even grew their dynasties. Although not everyone was happy with how championships ended, many athletes showed amazing skills. Let’s take a look at the top 10 athletes of 2024. Number 10 on our list is Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic. Alongside Kyrie Irving, Doncic led his team to the NBA Finals. He showed great skills throughout the season. Even though his team didn’t win, Doncic is set to become the top player when LeBron James retires. Next up, we have soccer legend Lionel Messi. Although he didn’t have a huge year like 2022, when he won the World Cup, Messi remains the best soccer player on the planet. His skills are better than Cristiano Ronaldo’s. In Formula 1, Max Verstappen is the standout athlete. Some people might not think driving a race car is a sport, but these drivers train hard. Verstappen won his fourth straight championship, which is impressive considering his car’s struggles.LeBron James, who’s about to turn 40, is still playing at a high level. He broke more records and even got his son Bronny drafted into the NBA. Lamar Jackson from the Baltimore Ravens had another exceptional year. He led his team farther in the playoffs than ever. Even though they didn’t win, Jackson is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Connor McDavid from the Edmonton Oilers led his team to the Stanley Cup Finals. They didn’t win, but McDavid’s performance in the series was amazing. Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals and won. He played at a high level all season. Caitlin Clark had a big impact on the WNBA. After a strong college career, she became a top player in the league and won Rookie of the Year. Patrick Mahomes is one of the best quarterbacks ever. He won three Super Bowls in seven seasons and looks ready for a three-peat. Lastly, Shohei Ohtani in baseball stood out. He’s a strong player on both offense and defense and helped the Los Angeles Dodgers have a great season.