Idris Elba was knighted for his charity work, and Sarina Wiegman was made an honorary dame following England women's football success. The 2026 New Year Honours also recognized figures from sports, entertainment, politics, and community service, including Olympic athletes, actors, musicians, and campaigners, with a total of 1,157 recipients.
ESPN has ranked the top 100 professional athletes since 2000, considering their performances and achievements in the 21st century. The list includes a diverse range of athletes from various sports, such as Tom Brady, Lionel Messi, LeBron James, Serena Williams, and many others. The ranking process involved more than 70,000 votes from ESPN contributors and experts, who evaluated athletes based on their accomplishments since 2000. The list will be revealed in segments, with 25 athletes announced each day.