The GOAT debate is fierce. Badminton fans can’t agree on which player is the greatest of all time (GOAT). Thankfully, Badmintonranks came up with a, let’s say, scientific way to determine the men’s singles GOATS.
Badmintonranks created a ranking system based on a range of criteria. In our view, their method is good enough to determine the greatest male singles badminton players of all time.
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Top 10 men’s singles badminton players of all time
Bear in mind that you’ll need to understand the GOAT ranking methodology to appreciate the top 10 GOAT list from Badmintonranks. Read about the GOAT ranking methodology here.
Of course, there is no way of determining the competitive fierceness of any given era. For example, Chinese players did not fully join the BWF circuit until the 1980s, which might have made it easier for other players to do well in the preceding eras.
Here is the complete top 10 GOATS for men’s singles as of May 2025. The list includes active and retired players.
See the full list here at Badmintonranks
See our badminton legend story on Lin Dan here. Get the newsletter to receive more stories about badminton legends.
Unsurprisingly, there are 4 Chinese players on the top 10 GOAT list. Denmark and Indonesia each have 2 GOATS on the list while Japan and Malaysia each have one player on the list of the greatest players of all time.
Let us also reiterate: some players might have had a much better run had it not been for accidents or injuries. Kento Momota is an example of that. Similarly, top players who were at their prime before badminton was introduced at the Olympics are at a slight disadvantage concerning the top 10 goat list.
Why isn’t your favorite badminton GOAT on the list?
That’s a fair question. Let’s give a few broad indications as to why your favorite GOAT didn’t make it to the top of the list:
– The Badmintonrank method favors winners of the Olympics and World Championships
– All England winners are awarded relatively few points (13), compared to Asian Games (49)
– Tournament winners are awarded significantly more points than the runner-up
The Badmintonranks scoring system is not favorable to legendary players such as Peter Gade of Denmark or Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. The reason being that neither won an Olympic or World Champion gold.
Indonesian legends such as Liem Swie King, Arbi, Suprianto, Hartono, and Sugiarto are similarly disadvantaged. These amazing Indonesian badminton players did not have an opportunity to compete at the Olympics. As a result they are placed further down the list of GOATS.
