You know that feeling when you see a photo and it basically stops your breath? Not because it’s pretty—though some are—but because it feels like you're standing right there in the sweat and the noise. Sports photography is weird that way. It’s the only medium that can freeze a 100-mph fastball or a split-second scream and make it live forever.
Honestly, we’ve all seen thousands of images of people kicking balls or jumping over sticks. Most of them are just... fine. They’re news. But the best sports pictures of all time are different. They aren't just about who won. They’re about the exact moment a human being became a myth.
The "Phantom Punch" and the seat nobody wanted
If we’re talking about icons, we have to start with Neil Leifer’s 1965 shot of Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston. You’ve seen it on posters, t-shirts, and probably every sports bar in the world. Ali is snarling, his glove is cocked, and Liston is flat on his back like he just got hit by a truck.
Here’s what most people get wrong: that photo wasn't the "official" view.
Leifer was actually sitting in the "wrong" seat according to the veteran photographers. He was a kid, only 22 at the time. The senior guys had the spots where they expected the action to happen. But when Liston went down just two minutes into the first round, he fell right in front of Leifer.
Leifer had one shot. Literally. His strobe lights took several seconds to recharge. If he clicked a half-second too early, he’d have a dark frame. If he waited too long, the moment was gone. He nailed it.
The guy sitting directly across from him, Herb Scharfman? He got a great photo too—of Ali’s butt. It just goes to show that in sports, being "the best" is often about being lucky enough to be in the right place and smart enough not to blink.
Why the 1968 Olympic protest still matters
Sometimes the best sports pictures aren't about the game at all. They’re about the world crashing into the game.
At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith and John Carlos took the podium for the 200m. They didn't just stand there and smile for their medals. They bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists during the national anthem.
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It was silent. It was terrifyingly bold.
People forget that they were wearing black socks and no shoes to represent poverty. Smith wore a black scarf for pride. They were kicked out of the Olympic Village almost immediately. They faced death threats for years.
But that photo? It changed how we look at athletes. It turned them from "performers" into "people with voices." You can feel the tension in the frame. Even the silver medalist, Peter Norman from Australia, is wearing a human rights badge to support them. It’s a heavy picture, but you can’t look away.
The sheer physics of the "Bobby Orr Flight"
If you want pure, unadulterated joy, you look at Ray Lussier’s shot of Bobby Orr in 1970.
Orr had just scored the goal to win the Stanley Cup for the Boston Bruins. As the puck hit the net, a St. Louis Blues defenseman tripped him. Orr didn't just fall; he took off.
Lussier captured him perfectly horizontal, soaring through the air like Superman, arms out, mouth wide open. It’s the ultimate "it’s over, we won" moment.
What’s wild is that Lussier almost missed it. He had switched sides with another photographer earlier in the game because he had a "hunch" the winning goal would happen at that end. Imagine being the guy who switched away from that spot. Ouch.
Maradona and the "Hand of God"
Then there’s the stuff that shouldn't have happened. 1986 World Cup. Argentina vs. England.
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Diego Maradona leaps into the air against the much taller English goalkeeper, Peter Shilton. He shouldn't be able to reach the ball. But he does. He punches it into the net with his hand.
The photographer, Steve Powell, caught the exact millisecond where Maradona’s fist is inches from the ball. It’s the perfect evidence of a crime.
Maradona later called it "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God." Honestly, it’s one of the most controversial images in history. It captures the "anything to win" spirit that makes sports both beautiful and kinda dirty at the same time.
Bolt’s smile: The ultimate flex
Fast forward to Rio 2016. Usain Bolt is in the 100m semifinals.
He’s so much faster than everyone else that he actually has time to look to his side and grin at the camera while the other sprinters are literally straining every muscle in their faces just to keep up.
Cameron Spencer caught that grin. It’s the definition of "it’s too easy."
In a world where every athlete looks like they’re in physical agony, Bolt looks like he’s having a stroll in the park. It’s probably the most "human" moment of superhuman talent ever caught on film.
What makes a sports photo "The Best"?
Is it the lighting? Sorta. Is it the gear? A little bit.
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But mostly, it’s the narrative. The best sports pictures tell a story that requires no caption. You don't need to know the score of the game to see the heartbreak in a player sitting on the turf after a loss. You don't need a rulebook to understand the triumph of a runner crossing the line.
Key elements of a hall-of-fame shot:
- The Decisive Moment: Catching the ball at the fingertip, not a second after.
- Emotion over Action: A teammate hugging a crying loser is often more powerful than a touchdown.
- Context: Showing the crowd, the stadium, or the weather to ground the viewer in the "where."
How to appreciate (and find) these gems
If you're looking to dive deeper into this world, don't just scroll Instagram. Look at the archives of Sports Illustrated from the 60s and 70s. Check out the "World Sports Photography Awards" for the modern stuff.
The technology has changed—we have drones and high-speed bursts now—but the goal is the same. It’s about that one frame that makes you feel like you were there.
Next steps for your own collection:
- Research the photographers: Look up names like Walter Iooss Jr., Neil Leifer, and Annie Leibovitz.
- Look for the "Why": Next time you see a great photo, ask yourself: what happened one second after this was taken?
- Visit a gallery: Seeing a high-res print of Ali vs. Liston is a completely different experience than seeing it on a phone screen.
Basically, sports are fleeting. The game ends, the fans go home, and the grass grows back. But these pictures? They're the only part of the game that never actually stops.
To truly understand the impact of these images, start by following the digital archives of the National Baseball Hall of Fame or the Olympic Heritage collection. Comparing the grainy, black-and-white grit of the early 1900s to the hyper-vivid, 8K-style clarity of today shows just how much our visual language of "greatness" has evolved. Take a moment to look at the backgrounds of these photos too; often, the faces in the crowd tell a story just as compelling as the athlete in the center of the frame.