Lists

Ranking The Top 25 Outspoken Stars In Pro Sports

Darren Ryding - June 18, 2023

Lists

Ranking The Top 25 Outspoken Stars In Pro Sports

Darren Ryding - June 18, 2023

Being an elite athlete puts you in the public eye. However, just because you’re good at sports doesn’t mean you have a personality. Many stars struggle in front of a microphone and just repeat the same tired old cliches. That’s not always the case though. There are many exceptions, and they stand out.

Extremely outspoken sports stars are very rare. They may use this personality trait as a force for good, speaking out against social problems and inequality in the world. Then you have those who just don’t have a filter. They’re arguably even more entertaining because you never know what they’re going to say. Today we’re going to take a look at 25 outspoken sports stars. We’re only looking at active athletes so legends like Muhammad Ali are not present on this list. Check out the list below.

25. Mario Balotelli

Balotelli is one of the craziest people on this list. The soccer star could have been world-class, but his lack of discipline has proven costly. He’s famous for a number of ridiculous moments during his time in England. These range from setting his house on fire after letting off fireworks to crashing his Ferrari into a women’s prison.

The man is truly a disaster, but you can’t help loving him at the same time. Now he’s currently playing for Brescia in Italy’s Serie A. However, they don’t want him anymore. Balotelli’s famous ‘Why always me’ t-shirt sums up his behavior. He’s a wild man and he doesn’t care who knows it.

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24. Joel Embiid

Embiid is a force in the NBA. Offensively and defensively, he’s been one of the best players in recent years. The Philidelphia 76ers star is an incredibly difficult player to come up against. But that’s not the only thing that opponents have to deal with. He’s also notorious for his trash talk.

He’s also famous for his internet trolling and for mocking players on other teams. However, there is a good reason behind it. Embiid says that he’s actually just trying to pump himself up instead of just antagonizing his opponents. Of course, the latter is probably a part of it too.

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23. Lilly King

The first of two female swimmers on this list, King has a strong personality. She’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist from 2016 and is one of the US’s great hopes going into Tokyo. But she’s more than just an athlete. King is also justifiably critical of those who engage in doping.

She has targeted a whole host of swimmers including China’s Sun Yang. King has zero toleration for those who dope at any level. Finally, her word is worth something because she is the current world record holder in 100-meter and 50-meter breaststrokes.

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22. Gabby Douglas

Douglas has been breaking down barriers for all of her short life. A multiple gold medal winner, the artistic gymnast is incredibly talented. First of all, she’s the first person of any African descent in Olympic history to become the individual all-around champion, an astonishing achievement.

Meanwhile, Douglas is as outspoken as they come. She has written a book about her life, explaining what it takes to become an Olympic champion. Barbie even created a doll in her likeness. That’s when you know that your message is on point. She’s not going anywhere.

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21. Fu Yuanhai

China’s Fu was one of the breakout stars of the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro. The swimmer won a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke. But that’s not why she became famous. Fu helped to change the image of a generation of Chinese athletes with her mannerisms and funny faces.

She established a strong internet following because of her warm personality and likeability. Then she revealed that she was on her period after a poor performance in the relay event. In doing so, she helped break down barriers for women in the swimming world. Fu was just being herself.

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20. Floyd Mayweather

Mayweather is definitely the most successful and potentially the most annoying figure on this list. With an unbeaten record of 50-0, he’s one of the greatest boxers of all-time. Renowned for his defensive skills, he took very little damage throughout his career. ‘Money’ is also very vocal on social media.

In fact, he can be incredibly irritating. One of his worst traits – apart from beating women – is the way he trolls fans on social media. He hinted that he was going to make his MMA debut last year. Now he’s supposed to be coming out of retirement to box again. But you never know with Mayweather.

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19. Josh Rosen

If you wear a headband saying ‘F**k Trump’ while you play golf, then you definitely aren’t shy about making your opinions known. Rosen is in exactly that position. The NFL star is a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, where he’s been in and out of the starting lineup.

Rosen has been the subject of criticism in the NFL. Some have suggested that because he comes from a wealthy background he’s not as committed to playing football and should be a full-time activist. It’s harsh when you consider that he was one of the most pro-ready players in the 2018 draft.

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18. Paula Radcliffe

UK Olympian Radcliffe is her country’s most celebrated marathon runner. She won three London Marathons, three New York Marathons and a Chicago Marathon in a hugely successful career. Despite never reaching the podium at the Olympics, she succeeded on the world stage. Radcliffe is no longer professional but is still active as an amateur.

Radcliffe is not shy in discussing her views. One of the most controversial topics these days is about transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. According to Radcliffe, transgender athletes have an unfair advantage in long-distance running. This is particularly clear in the notoriously difficult to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

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17. Paige VanZant

One look at VanZant and you’d think her life is amazing. The UFC fighter is a massive Instagram star because of her good looks and her skill in the octagon. In short, it’s the perfect combination. But despite appearances, life wasn’t always perfect for the flyweight fighter.

In her biography, she revealed that a gang of fellow students sexually assaulted her. After suffering from this traumatic and devastating experience, she changed her name and moved away. It was incredibly brave of her to talk about this because of the impact it had upon her and the damage it did as a young woman.

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16. Kyle Busch

Busch brings incredible entertainment value and not just because of his skills on the racetrack. He’s hilarious on the microphone, and it’s often unintentional. Every race that this man partakes in is an emotional rollercoaster. To sum up, he has a potty mouth and he’s not afraid to show it off.

However, that hasn’t stopped him from being very successful. Busch has a bank balance of over $50 million in career earnings. Busch became NASCAR’s youngest ever pole winner in a Cup Series race at California Speedway in 2005. Furthermore, he’s also the only driver to win a race and a championship in a Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series.

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15. Derrick Chisora

When Chisora bit Paul Butlin, it was clear he was no normal guy. The heavyweight contender is one of the most controversial athletes in the division today. In short, he’s a hyper-aggressive individual. Chisora once slapped Vitaly Klitschko at a weigh-in. He also threatened to hunt down and shoot David Haye.

His most iconic moment though was when he threw a table at Dillian Whyte. Meanwhile, he’s an outspoken advocate of the Brexit Party in England. Chisora has no inhibitions as he demonstrated by kissing Carl Baker. The Brit had told Baker that he was going to make him his girlfriend.

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14. LeBron James

NBA megastar James is one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet today. In every generation, there are figures who reach iconic status, and this 15-time All-Star is one of them. A three-time NBA Championship winner, James has achieved incredible things on the basketball court.

Meanwhile, he’s also used his fame to be an advocate for good. As well as supporting Colin Kaepernick, he’s been vehement in his criticisms of US President Donald Trump. James is staunchly anti-racism and does his best to speak out on for equal rights in America.

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13. Israel Folau

Sometimes you should just suck it up and shut up. Folau was one of the best rugby players on the planet. The Australian was a fixture in his national team but then he opened his mouth. An ultra-conservative Christian, Folau made it clear he doesn’t like gay people at all.

Unfortunately for him, this signaled the end of his professional career. At the age of 32, he should still be playing. But the Australian Rugby Union decided that they could not allow a player to star for their team unless he represented everybody in the country. It was never going to end well.

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12. Paulie Malignaggi

‘The Magic Man’ makes this list on account of the fact that he fought in the last year. A former welterweight champion, Malignaggi was a very skillful boxer despite his athletic limitations. However, he hates Conor McGregor and made that very clear after an incident involving the Irishman.

First of all, McGregor brought Malignaggi in as a sparring partner for his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. But it all turned toxic after the Irishman’s camp released footage of him dropping the New Yorker. Now he slates McGregor at every opportunity. A well-respected analyst, his honesty is a breath of fresh air.

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11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic has almost become a caricature of himself at this time. The Swede has turned arrogance into an art form. First of all, he constantly refers to himself in the third person. Then, he genuinely believes that he’s the best player in the world. That’s not to say he hasn’t had a brilliant career because he certainly has.

However, ‘Ibra’ is also the type of guy to tell LA Galaxy to ‘go back to watching baseball.’ In his final message to the club, he said: “I came, I saw, I conquered. You wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You are welcome.” You’ve got to love his humility. Or the total lack of it.

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10. Adam Jones

Canadian border police once mistook Jones for ‘Pacman,’ his NFL namesake. However, the MLB version is a totally different character. Focused and driven, he’s a five-time MLB All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a Silver Slugger winner. Now that’s seriously impressive.

Despite being a brilliant player, Jones has been openly critical about baseball being a ‘white man’s sport.’ He’s got a point. Only 8% of MLB players are black. Furthermore, he was also supportive of Colin Kaepernick’s decision to take a knee. Jones pointed out that many people don’t even know all the words of the national anthem.

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9. Nate Diaz

The Diaz brothers have developed an under-siege mentality that makes it seem like the world is against them. In recent years, Nate has definitely emerged as the most outspoken of the two. He doesn’t care what anybody thinks about him and he’ll say what he thinks.

He’s famous for the line, ‘everybody’s on steroids.’ Diaz also developed an excellent rivalry with Conor McGregor. With his aggression and hood mentality, he was a great foil for the brash Irishman. Although he occasionally comes out with a delusional statement, you’ve got to love him for keeping it real.

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8. Eric Reid

Colin Kaepernick’s inability to get a contract off of any NFL team has made him a martyr. But Reid has also played an integral role in taking a knee. This has even seen him receive death threats. The Carolina Panthers star was once drug tested seven times in just 11 games. The chances of this happening are just 0.17%.

However, Reid is proving that he’s a hard man to intimidate. The safety is an excellent and consistent player. He made the 2013 ProBowl and was an All-American in college. He shows no signs of slowing down on the field or in the world of civil rights. The man deserves credit for refusing to back down.

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7. Derrick Lewis

This giant is one of the hardest-hitting fighters on the planet. A Louisiana native, Lewis fights in the UFC’s heavyweight division. He’s a knockout artist and possesses devastating finishing power. But as well as this, Lewis is also hilarious on the microphone. He really has no filter.

Unlike some of the people on this list, Lewis just brings pure joy. His ‘my balls were hot’ line is legendary at this point. ‘The Black Beast’ hates men who abuse women. He’s been vocal in his criticism of several fighters including Travis Browne and Greg Hardy. In short, Lewis is fantastic.

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6. Serena Williams

Williams is a force of nature. She’s one of the greatest female tennis players of all-time. The 38-year-old has won 23 major singles titles, more than any other man or woman in the Open Era. A powerful player, Williams has also been an effective social justice warrior, standing up against racial discrimination and sexism.

Passionately outspoken, Williams supports the Black Lives Matters movement. She’s also been a vocal advocate of equal pay for women. The tennis legend has definitely made an impression on the world. She definitely doesn’t care what people think about her.

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Tyson Fury. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

5. Tyson Fury

Not everything Tyson Fury says hits the mark, but you can’t turn away when he talks. ‘The Gypsy King’ is very charismatic and energizes every crowd he stands in front of. Also, he’s an intelligent boxer with more skills than most heavyweight boxers out there today. The lineal champion is a true force of nature.

Nicknamed ‘The Gypsy King,’ Fury has battled extreme depression. This caused him to balloon in weight as he ate badly while abusing drugs and alcohol. However, he’s become an unlikely advocate for mental health and is using his platform to encourage young men to seek help. You’ve got to respect that.

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4. Raheem Sterling

Sterling is one of the most talented soccer players in the world right now. The Manchester City star is a dynamic forward who presents a real goal threat these days. He also has a very tense relationship with the media because of the way they’ve presented him in the past. To sum up, he’s totally justified.

Elements of the UK media have fixated on presenting him as a trouble-making figure. In response, he’s come out in support of young black athletes who have been racially abused on the soccer field. Sterling has made a lot of people look very stupid. He’s one of the bravest athletes out there today.

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3. Colin Kaepernick

One of the most obvious names on this list, it’s been three years since Kaepernick starred in the NFL. However, he won’t be offered a new contract any time soon. The former San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback famously took a knee in protest of police brutality against black people in the US.

After he became a free agent, he went to war with the NFL, even suing them for discrimination. Although the league wants nothing to do with him now, he’s still a massively influential figure. In short, he’s an icon of the civil rights movement. Furthermore, his Nike ad is having a massive impact on young inner-city children across the nation.

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2. Megan Rapinoe

The winner of the 2019 Ballon d’Or, it’s been an incredible year for Rapinoe. She captained the USWNT to World Cup glory. With her purple hair, she cut an iconic figure on the playing field. Winning the Golden Boot as top scorer definitely helped endear her to the public too.

Rapinoe uses her platform to advocate several social justice causes. A proud lesbian, she seeks to inspire young LGBT children across the world. Meanwhile, she’s also a fierce critic of US President Donald Trump. The pair have sparred on Twitter. Love her or loathe her, she’s definitely one of the most vocal athletes out there right now.

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1. Conor McGregor

Could any other athlete top this list? McGregor is one of the most controversial sports stars in the world today. A former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, the Irishman’s rapid rise to the top was as much because of his trash talk as it was because of his fighting skills.

That’s not to say he isn’t a brilliant fighter. ‘The Notorious’ definitely possesses phenomenal knockout power. But he also has no filter. For example, he infamously told Khabib Nurmagamedov that his wife looked like a goat under a tea cloth. This man has made many more enemies than he has friends.

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Ranking The Top 25 Outspoken Stars In Pro Sports

Ranking The Top 25 Outspoken Stars In Pro Sports

25. Mario Balotelli

24. Joel Embiid

23. Lilly King

22. Gabby Douglas

21. Fu Yuanhai

20. Floyd Mayweather

19. Josh Rosen

18. Paula Radcliffe

17. Paige VanZant

16. Kyle Busch

15. Derrick Chisora

14. LeBron James

13. Israel Folau

12. Paulie Malignaggi

11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

10. Adam Jones

9. Nate Diaz

8. Eric Reid

7. Derrick Lewis

6. Serena Williams

5. Tyson Fury

4. Raheem Sterling

3. Colin Kaepernick

2. Megan Rapinoe

1. Conor McGregor

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