Roger Federer named the seven best athletes in history. The Swiss surprised by naming two footballers, but no tennis players.
Roger Federer He is one of the most important names in the history of tennis and continues to be considered, by many, the best of all time. His record of 20 Grand Slams, in addition to his record for the greatest number of weeks as world No. 1, are great arguments for this.
That is why the Swiss appears as a voice more than authorized to talk about the world’s great athletes. Now, in an interview with the German newspaper Weld, Federer revealed his list of seven athletes who have inspired him the most.
It comes as a real surprise that the Swiss has not mentioned any tennis player. Not even to Rafael Nadalone of his great friends and whom he has always had on a pedestal. In his list, His Majesty did consider soccer players (two South Americans) and even Formula One racers.
The best in history, for him, are “Pelé, Diego Maradona, Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods, Valentino Rossi, Ayrton Senna and Michael Jordanof course. He was an idol of mine. Athletes like that inspire me.”
The link between Roger Federer and Diego Maradona
Roger Federer’s mention of Diego Maradona is not at all surprising, since both expressed their idolatry for the other. “You were, you are and you will be the greatest. There is no other that can show you,” the Argentine told the Swiss in a presentation in 2019, a year before his death.
Federer, meanwhile, was full of praise when they met for the first time in 2010, in London. “He is one of the best footballers of all time and I grew up admiring him too, even though he was from South America. On one occasion I already signed a shirt for him,” he declared.
