Greatest Underdog Wins in Sports History
From miracle goals to 5,000-to-1 title runs, these are the moments when the little guy shocked the world and rewrote what everyone thought was possible. Odds, scores, and dates are approximate but the disbelief was real. Cast your vote for the upset that still gives you chills.
What counts: Ranked by the sheer size of the upset (how lopsided the pre-match odds or expectations were), the drama of the moment itself, and the lasting impact the win had on its sport. All odds, dates, and ratings are approximate historical estimates gathered from contemporary reporting.
USA Hockey's 'Miracle on Ice'
A team of American college kids and amateurs faced the unbeatable Soviet machine at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics and somehow won 4-3. They followed it up by beating Finland for gold, cementing the most famous upset in Olympic history.
Year: 1980Sport: Ice HockeyOdds Against Winning: 1,000 to 1Favorite Defeated: Soviet Union National TeamUpset Magnitude: 10/10Lasting Impact: 10/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0Buster Douglas Knocks Out Mike Tyson
Nobody gave journeyman James 'Buster' Douglas a chance against the seemingly invincible heavyweight champion in Tokyo. Douglas outboxed and then knocked out Tyson in the 10th round, ending one of the most dominant title reigns in boxing history.
Year: 1990Sport: BoxingOdds Against Winning: 42 to 1Favorite Defeated: Mike TysonUpset Magnitude: 9/10Lasting Impact: 9/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0Leicester City Wins the Premier League
A club that had nearly been relegated the year before was given 5,000-to-1 odds to win England's top league. Behind Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City did the impossible, claiming the 2015-16 Premier League title in one of the greatest team sports upsets ever.
Year: 2015-16Sport: SoccerOdds Against Winning: 5,000 to 1Favorite Defeated: Manchester City, Chelsea, ArsenalUpset Magnitude: 10/10Lasting Impact: 9/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0Joe Namath's Jets Shock the Colts in Super Bowl III
Namath brashly guaranteed a win days before the game, and the AFL's Jets were massive underdogs against the powerhouse NFL Colts. New York's 16-7 victory legitimized the AFL and remains one of football's defining upsets.
Year: 1969Sport: American FootballOdds Against Winning: 18 to 1Favorite Defeated: Baltimore ColtsUpset Magnitude: 9/10Lasting Impact: 9/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0USA Stuns England at the 1950 World Cup
A ragtag American squad of part-timers, including a dishwasher and a mailman, faced England, one of the sport's founding powers and pre-tournament favorites. The 1-0 loss shocked England so much that some newspapers back home assumed it was a typo.
Year: 1950Sport: SoccerOdds Against Winning: 500 to 1Favorite Defeated: England National TeamUpset Magnitude: 9/10Lasting Impact: 8/10Won Title/Championship: —
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0Villanova's Perfect Game Topples Georgetown
In the 1985 NCAA title game, underdog Villanova shot an absurd 79% from the field to beat Patrick Ewing's heavily favored Georgetown Hoyas. It remains widely regarded as the greatest game ever played in March Madness history.
Year: 1985Sport: BasketballOdds Against Winning: 10 to 1Favorite Defeated: Georgetown HoyasUpset Magnitude: 9/10Lasting Impact: 8/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0Appalachian State Stuns #5 Michigan
A team from the FCS ranks walked into the Big House and beat a Top 5 Michigan squad, blocking a last-second field goal to seal it. It instantly became the gold standard for college football upsets and a symbol of 'anything can happen' Saturdays.
Year: 2007Sport: American Football (College)Odds Against Winning: 25 to 1Favorite Defeated: Michigan WolverinesUpset Magnitude: 8/10Lasting Impact: 7/10Won Title/Championship: —
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0Rulon Gardner Topples Karelin's 13-Year Reign
Alexander Karelin was considered unbeatable, undefeated for 13 years and a three-time Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling. American farm boy Rulon Gardner shocked the world with a 1-0 win in the 2000 Sydney Olympic final.
Year: 2000Sport: WrestlingOdds Against Winning: 50 to 1Favorite Defeated: Alexander KarelinUpset Magnitude: 9/10Lasting Impact: 7/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0Muhammad Ali's 'Rumble in the Jungle'
George Foreman was viewed as an unstoppable knockout machine when he defended his title against Ali in Zaire. Ali's rope-a-dope strategy wore Foreman down before an eighth-round knockout reclaimed the heavyweight crown in one of boxing's most iconic upsets.
Year: 1974Sport: BoxingOdds Against Winning: 4 to 1Favorite Defeated: George ForemanUpset Magnitude: 8/10Lasting Impact: 9/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0Cassius Clay Shocks Sonny Liston
The fearsome, mob-linked champion Sonny Liston was expected to demolish the loud young challenger, but Clay's speed and jab overwhelmed him until Liston quit in his corner. It launched the legend of Muhammad Ali.
Year: 1964Sport: BoxingOdds Against Winning: 7 to 1Favorite Defeated: Sonny ListonUpset Magnitude: 8/10Lasting Impact: 8/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0Seabiscuit Beats War Admiral
The undersized, knobby-kneed Seabiscuit faced Triple Crown winner War Admiral in a nationally broadcast match race that captivated Depression-era America. Seabiscuit's front-running upset made him a folk hero and a symbol of resilience.
Year: 1938Sport: Horse RacingOdds Against Winning: 2 to 1Favorite Defeated: War AdmiralUpset Magnitude: 7/10Lasting Impact: 7/10Won Title/Championship: —
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0Cameroon Stuns Defending Champion Argentina
In the opening match of the 1990 World Cup, African debutants Cameroon shocked defending champions Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, 1-0, despite finishing the match with nine men. It announced African football on the world stage.
Year: 1990Sport: SoccerOdds Against Winning: 8 to 1Favorite Defeated: Argentina National TeamUpset Magnitude: 8/10Lasting Impact: 7/10Won Title/Championship: —
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0Greece Wins Euro 2004
Given 150-1 odds to win the tournament, Greece ground out result after result on defense and set-pieces, beating hosts Portugal in both the opener and the final. It stands as one of international football's most improbable championship runs.
Year: 2004Sport: SoccerOdds Against Winning: 150 to 1Favorite Defeated: Portugal, France, Czech RepublicUpset Magnitude: 10/10Lasting Impact: 8/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0Patriots Upset the 'Greatest Show on Turf'
The high-flying, heavily favored St. Louis Rams were expected to steamroll a young, unproven New England team led by second-year quarterback Tom Brady. The Patriots' 20-17 win in Super Bowl XXXVI launched a dynasty nobody saw coming.
Year: 2002Sport: American FootballOdds Against Winning: 14 to 1Favorite Defeated: St. Louis RamsUpset Magnitude: 7/10Lasting Impact: 8/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0The 'Miracle Mets' Win the 1969 World Series
A franchise that had never finished better than ninth place went from lovable losers to World Series champions, beating the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in five games. The Mets' turnaround remains one of baseball's great worst-to-first stories.
Year: 1969Sport: BaseballOdds Against Winning: 100 to 1Favorite Defeated: Baltimore OriolesUpset Magnitude: 8/10Lasting Impact: 8/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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0NC State's 'Cardiac Pack' Shocks Houston
Jim Valvano's scrappy North Carolina State squad had to survive several close calls just to reach the 1983 championship game against the vaunted, high-flying 'Phi Slama Jama' Houston Cougars. A buzzer-beating dunk sealed a stunning 54-52 win and an unforgettable title.
Year: 1983Sport: BasketballOdds Against Winning: 15 to 1Favorite Defeated: Houston CougarsUpset Magnitude: 8/10Lasting Impact: 7/10Won Title/Championship: ✓
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