Who is the GOAT of padel?

Fernando Belasteguín. He held the world #1 ranking for 16 consecutive years (2002-2018), a record unmatched in any professional racket sport. His World Padel Tour dominance with multiple partners is a milestone no other player has come close to reaching.

Who is the best padel player right now?

Arturo Coello holds the FIP World #1 ranking in men's padel. Delfina Brea holds Women's World #1. Coello's partnership with Agustín Tapia is the most dominant pairing in the current era.

Who is the youngest player to reach World #1 in padel?

Arturo Coello. Born in 2002, he reached the top ranking before turning 22, surpassing every previous record.

Who is the highest-earning padel player in history?

Agustín Tapia is the highest-earning padel player in history based on recorded prize money in the Premier Padel and FIP era, with career earnings well above €1 million. In women's padel, Ariana Sánchez holds the record for highest career prize money earnings. Live data from our database currently shows career earnings of €1.22M for the leading men's player.

Who is the best women's padel player of all time?

Gemma Triay, based on multiple Major wins and sustained dominance at the top of the rankings. Among all-time contenders, Alejandra Salazar and Marta Marrero pioneered professional women's padel across the WPT era, each holding World #1 for extended periods.

Will padel ever have a rivalry like Federer and Nadal?

The Belasteguín era was so dominant that true rivalry was rare at the very top. Coello and Tapia are partners rather than rivals, which changes the dynamic. Still, Coello/Tapia vs Galán/Chingotto and the pressure from the next generation may yet produce the rivalries padel needs for mainstream crossover.

Best Padel Players of All Time: The 20 Greatest Ranked | Padel Earnings

GOAT Ranking12 min read

Best Padel Players of All Time
The 20 Greatest Ranked

From Belasteguín's 16-year reign to Coello's Rolex era. The 20 greatest men's and women's padel players ranked by titles, career earnings, longevity, and impact on the sport.

By Bas Hogeveen, Editor-in-Chief·April 1, 2026

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Combined career

The 20 greatest padel players have earned €6.31M combined

Bela held World #1 for 16 consecutive years. Coello became the first padel player to sign with Rolex. Triay and Brea redefined what women's padel could be. These are the players who shaped the sport.

What Makes a Padel Legend?

Padel turned professional recently, but three decades of competition have already produced players with careers worthy of comparison to tennis or squash greats. This list weighs four dimensions: titles and tournament wins, time spent at or near world #1,career prize money earnings (Premier Padel era data where available), andlasting impact on how the game is played.

No ranking system perfectly captures legacy. Belasteguín dominated before prize money reached today's levels. Coello and Tapia play in a richer, more global sport. We adjusted for era differences throughout. Live earnings data from our database appears where available, giving objective financial context for each player's modern output.

Men's Top 10

All Time

GOAT

Fernando BelasteguínGOAT

2002-202016 years as World #127 tournaments

The GOAT of padel. "Bela" held the world #1 ranking for 16 consecutive years (2002-2018), a record unmatched in any professional racket sport. He won 23 World Padel Tour titles with multiple partners and redefined padel through tactical mastery and relentless consistency.

Women's Top 10

All Time

GOAT

Gemma TriayLegend

2017-presentDominated women's padel for years

The greatest women's padel player of the modern era. Triay's partnerships with Alejandra Salazar and later Delfina Brea produced sustained dominance at the top. Defensive brilliance, tactical intelligence, and a knack for rising to big moments define her game. Multiple Major wins and years at world #1 cement her legacy.

Multiple Major wins, years as Women's World #1

Legend

Delfina BreaActive

2020-presentCurrent Women's World #1, 3 Major wins50 tournaments

The Argentine star who combined with Gemma Triay to reach the top of women's padel. Brea's aggressive baseline game, powerful smash, and tactical awareness elevated her to Women's World #1. Three Major wins and a consistent run at the top make her a defining figure of the current era and a standard-bearer for Argentine women's padel.

FIP Women's World #1, 3 Major wins, highest-earning Argentine woman

Career prize money (Premier Padel era)€667K

All-Time Great

Ariana SánchezActive

2018-presentHighest career earner in women's padel

"Ari" Sánchez holds the record for highest career prize money in women's padel, a testament to longevity and consistency at the top level. Her partnership with Paula Josemaría won multiple Majors and produced some of the most complete women's padel ever seen. Her all-court game, reading of play, and composure in key moments set the standard for the women's tour.

Highest career earnings in women's padel, multiple Major wins

Alejandra SalazarActive

2008-presentPioneer, former long-time World #1

A true pioneer of women's padel. Salazar held World #1 across multiple stints, and her partnership with Marta Marrero ranks among the most iconic in the sport's history. Two decades at the elite level bridged the amateur era and the professional Premier Padel era. She proved padel could be a legitimate career for women.

Former Women's World #1, 20+ year elite career, pioneer of professional women's padel

Marta MarreroLegend

2006-presentPioneer, record titles in women's padel28 tournaments

Alongside Alejandra Salazar, Marrero co-authored the defining chapter of pre-Premier Padel women's dominance. Multiple WPT titles and years at or near world #1 speak to her technical excellence and competitive longevity. As a founding figure of professional women's padel, she built the platform that today's stars benefit from.

Multiple Women's WPT titles, former World #1, co-founder of professional women's padel era

Career prize money (Premier Padel era)€63K

Paula JosemaríaActive

2019-present3 Major wins, €690K+ career earnings

Paula Josemaría is the complete modern women's player. Three Major wins alongside Ari Sánchez, consistent top-5 rankings, and €690K+ in career earnings prove elite ability and professionalism. Her Miami P1 2026 title with Bea González showed she builds winning partnerships with any top-level partner. Technically, her attacking left-side game is as polished as any on tour.

3 Major wins, FIP Women's Top 5, €690K+ career earnings

Bea GonzálezRising

2021-presentMiami P1 2026 champion, rising star

At 24, Bea González is already €500K+ into her career and ascending fast. Her Miami P1 2026 title with Paula Josemaría confirmed her as an elite force in women's padel. Aggressive right-side play, consistent net presence, and composure under pressure point to a trajectory that could challenge the all-time greats.

Miami P1 2026 champion, FIP Top 5, €500K+ at age 24

Marta OrtegaActive

2019-presentConsistently top 5 women's player

Marta Ortega has delivered consistent results across five elite seasons. Technical precision, competitive durability, and the ability to reach the business end of every Major and P1 event make her one of the most reliable players in women's padel. A cornerstone of the Spanish women's establishment on tour.

Multiple seasons in FIP Women's Top 5, consistent Major finalist

Virginia RieraActive

2016-presentArgentine veteran, multiple titles47 tournaments

Virginia Riera represents the best of Argentine women's padel outside Brea's generation. Experience, court intelligence, and defensive consistency kept her competitive at the elite level across eight seasons. Multiple titles and consistent top-10 finishes show a player who raised the bar for Argentine women on the global stage.

Multiple titles, 8+ year elite career, Argentine women's padel pioneer

Career prize money (Premier Padel era)€140K

#10

Lucía SainzActive

2019-presentConsistent top performer

Lucía Sainz built her reputation on reliable, high-quality performance across five elite seasons. A technical all-court game and the ability to form effective partnerships with different players keep her in the top tier. Consistent top-10 finishes and multiple title challenges make her one of the most dependable players on tour.

FIP Women's Top 10, consistent elite performer, multiple partnership successes

Best Padel Players of All Time
The 20 Greatest Ranked

What Makes a Padel Legend?

Men's Top 10

Women's Top 10

How We Ranked Them

1. Titles and Major wins

2. Time at or near World #1

3. Career prize money

4. Impact on the sport

Three Eras of Padel Greatness

The Belasteguín Epoch

The Spanish Takeover

The Coello-Tapia Era

Frequently Asked Questions

Track Every Player's Career Earnings

Related Articles

Best Padel Players of All TimeThe 20 Greatest Ranked

What Makes a Padel Legend?

Men's Top 10

Women's Top 10

How We Ranked Them

1. Titles and Major wins

2. Time at or near World #1

3. Career prize money

4. Impact on the sport

Three Eras of Padel Greatness

The Belasteguín Epoch

The Spanish Takeover

The Coello-Tapia Era

Frequently Asked Questions

Track Every Player's Career Earnings

Related Articles

Best Padel Players of All Time
The 20 Greatest Ranked