Which magazine named Muhammad Ali 'Sportsman of the Century' in 1999?

Sports Illustrated named Muhammad Ali “Sportsman of the Century” in 1999. The recognition reflected not only his dominance as a heavyweight boxer but also his enormous influence on sports, civil rights, politics, and popular culture.

Ali had won Olympic gold in 1960, became world heavyweight champion in 1964, and reclaimed the title twice after losing it. His refusal to enter the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War led to a nearly four-year interruption of his boxing career, but it also established him as one of the most prominent athlete-activists in American history.

The 1999 honor is easy to mix up with other century-ending accolades. The BBC named Ali its Sports Personality of the Century, while USA Today named him Athlete of the Century. Sports Illustrated’s wording was specifically “Sportsman of the Century,” making the magazine’s name the canonical answer.