The Greatest Hispanic Team Leaders in Sports History

Image via Complex Original

Ethnicity: Argentine

When you look at Manu Ginobili’s career averages of 14.6 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game, the numbers don’t pop out at you. And that’s perfectly fine because Ginobili has always been the type of player who does the things that don’t appear in the box score. If there is a loose ball, Ginobili is probably the first player to throw his body on the floor for the betterment of the team. If San Antonio needs that defensive stop with the game on the line, Manu is going to do everything he can to make it happen.

Just look at his performance in Game 5 of the 2014 NBA Finals, when he willed the Spurs back from a huge first-half deficit and then proceeded to put the Heat away with some clutch shooting. Leaders don’t always need to be the boisterous ones. Some people lead with a quiet confidence. Manu is living proof of that.

Ethnicity: Cuban (from mother’s side)

It may be hard to believe, but Tony Gonzalez ranks second in most receptions in NFL history. While the accomplishment is impressive, what makes it more astounding is that Gonzalez was a tight end throughout his entire career. So, in addition to being one of his quarterback’s top targets, he was also relied upon to block for the running back. Even with those responsibilities, Gonzalez managed to not only excel, but to pave the way for up-and-comers in the position to succeed, raising the bar for the future in the process.

While accolades and records are great, the more important takeaway is that the many hats Gonzalez needed to wear, both on- and off-the-field, never fazed him. Gonzalez wasn’t caught up in how many obligations he had. He just went out there and did his job.

Ethnicity: Portuguese

Cristiano Ronaldo might get a bad rap from die-hard soccer fans who don’t happen to root for his team, but when Portugal or Real Madrid need a goal or a clutch pass in the waning moments of a match, who are they turning to? CR7. Case in point, did you see the 2014 World Cup? Even though Ronaldo was dealing with thigh and knee injuries, he was still putting his best foot forward—pun intended.

As an athlete, when you’re a team leader, you aren’t afraid of the big moment, and with the United States clinging to a slim 2-1 lead, Ronaldo put some perfect touch on a cross to Varela for the match-tying header. Few players could make that play in that moment. Ronaldo is one of them, leading his team to success.

Ethnicity: Argentine

Much like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is a leader by example. Between 2009-2012, Messi was an unstoppable force in La Liga. In the final year of that time span, Messi set a new high mark for goals in a season with 91. And, if you have seen him at work, you can tell that the 27-year-old worked extremely hard to get to where he is today. How can his teammates not play to the best of their abilities when Messi is out there inspiring them by giving 110 percent effort every time?

Ethnicity: Dominican

For over a decade, David Ortiz has been the heart and soul of the Boston Red Sox, helping lead the franchise to three World Series titles after a near 90-year championship drought. In a sport that heavily relies on teamwork and group strategy, Ortiz has proven time after time that he can single-handedly alter the course of a game with one swing of the bat, but he prefers to lift his fellow players up.

It would’ve been enough for the man commonly referred to as “Big Papi” to simply put his teammates on his back, but following the tragic Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, he took his leadership to another level. With a simple, NSFW sentence, Ortiz motivated the entire city to remain #BostonStrong during those tough times. At that moment, Ortiz wasn’t just a leader for the Red Sox, but he was also a leader for the city of Boston.

Ethnicity: Argentine (from mother’s side)

Diana Taurasi has a ton of awards under her belt—more than you can count on all the fingers and toes on the human body. But take a look at what she told ESPN earlier this year: “I go to sleep every single night thinking I’m not good enough,” Taurasi said. “I really do. I don’t know if that’s healthy or not. But I really do have a fear of not being good, and I don’t like that.” Forget the fact that the WNBA honored her as one of the top 15 players in the league’s history—Taurasi remains hungry. A player like that, with that type of mentality, rubs off on teammates who are never satisfied with just being good. After all, why be good when you can be great?

Ethnicity: Mexican

There’s something so admirable about being an offensive lineman. They rarely, if ever, score touchdowns. They are never the people that the media run to talk to after a game. Their jerseys aren’t the top sellers. However, none of these things dissuade them from going out there and not taking any plays off when it comes to protecting the skill position players—quarterback and running back—who receive most of the attention from football fans.

In the case of Anthony Munoz, the former Bengals tackle made sure to be the best player he could be, lifting weights at home while also running three to four miles a day...even if the acknowledgments for a job well done were at a minimum.

Ethnicity: Puerto Rican

If you know about Roberto Clemente, then you're very familiar with the story of his untimely death in 1972. Following an earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua, Clemente boarded a plane with aid packages for the victims on New Year's Eve when the overloaded flight crashed into the ocean near Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. Aside from everything that he accomplished on the diamond, Clemente was an amazing individual who tragically died attempting to do something good for others. He broke the mold of what a true athlete and leader could be and inspired his fans to consider the well-being of others before thinking of themselves.

Ethnicity: Puerto Rican (from father’s side)

During the offseason, Carmelo Anthony had a tough decision to make: take the easy road and join the Chicago Bulls, or continue onward with the New York Knicks. Loyalty is an important aspect for a leader. Even when the terrain seemed tough, ’Melo stayed put with the Knicks, attempting to build something special with the franchise that he has been with since 2011.

Yes, there will be people who will point out the difference in contracts, but how many times does he need to say that it was never about the money before you believe him? In the end, Carmelo wants to win in New York—even if the odds seem slim.

Ethnicity: Mexican (from mother’s side)

In this case, Ted Williams was the embodiment of a true leader for an entire generation of Mexican-Americans playing baseball. But in 1942, the two-time American League MVP winner was forced to put his baseball career on hold and serve his country in World War II. While there were some factors (such as him being the sole provider for his mother) that should’ve disqualified him from ever being chosen, Williams did what he had to do, came back when it was all done, and it seemed as though he never missed a beat, as he amassed multiple awards following his return.