Top 10 Latino Athletes You Should Know
We can find Latino athletes in every sport avenue. From baseball, soccer, football, basketball and even boxing, Latino athletes seem to dominate in sports being some of the best in their lanes. Here is our compiled list of Latino athletes that you should be keeping an eye on.
Neymar (Soccer Player)
This Brazilian footballer was sure to make the list as forward for French club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team. Neymar is said to hold the most expensive Association Football transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-German in 2017, worth $333 million. He is even compared to Brazilian football legend, Pelé.
Carmelo Anthony (Basketball Player)
Carmelo, who some may not know is partially Puerto-Rican, is a basketball player who began his career in the NBA in 2003. Although he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets, he built his name throughout his dynasty with the New York Knicks. The Power Forward now plays for the Houston Rockets with a one-year contract.
Lionel Messi (Soccer Player)
This Argentine professional footballer holds the record of his country’s all-time leading scorer. At only 20 years old, he received the nickname “Messiah.” His undeniable talent is often compared to Mexican footballer, Diego Maradona. His current team is Barcelona and he is named as one of the highest paid soccer players of all time.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer Player)
A player you’ve for sure heard of before, Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional football player. He plays as a forward for the Italian club Juventus and captain for the Portugal national team. He was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation and is also is one of the highest paid soccer players.
Alex Rodriguez or A Rod (Baseball Player)
A Rod is a Dominican professional baseball player who played a total of 22 seasons in MLB. As a 14-time All-Star winner, he has beaten records across the chart that led him to be known as one of the greatest overall baseball players. He ended his notable career in 2016 with the New York Yankees.
Rafael Nadal (Tennis Player)
Nadal is a professional Spanish tennis player from Spain who is currently ranked world number two in men’s singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals. In 2005, he won his first Grand Slam title, which was followed by 11 French Openings, 11 Monte-Carlo Masters and 11 Barcelona titles.
Oscar de la Hoya (Boxer)
De La Hoya is a Mexican professional boxer who has coined the nickname The Golden Boy. He has competed since 1992 and won multiple world titles in six different weight classes. He has a total of 45 fights, 39 wins, and 30 knock-outs. I would stay out of his way!
Tony Romo (Football Player)
Romo is a Mexican-American professional football player who played 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. The former quarterback was selected for Pro Bowl four times and All-American three times. His last game was in 2016 with the Dallas Cowboys.
Mark Sanchez (Football Player)
Sanchez is a Mexican-American professional football player first drafted by the New York Jets in 2009 NFL Draft. With his stellar first season, he was named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week in 2009 and Sporting News All-Rookie Team. He is also tied with Joe Flacco for most playoff victories by a rookie quarterback.
David Ortiz (Baseball Player)
This iconic name should ring a bell. Ortiz is a Dominican professional baseball player who played 20 seasons primarily with the Boston Red Sox. He was a 10-time All-Star, a three-time World Series Champion, and a Seven-time Silver Slugger winner. Talk about a record!
Do you watch sports? Which one of these Latino athletes is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
