- Over three decades have passed since some began their careers, meaning there has been plenty of time for change.
- From Lionel Messi and Roger Federer to Serena Williams, Business Insider took a look at how 15 of the globe's elite looked when they were youngsters.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The world's biggest sports stars didn't always look the way they do today.
Rousey/Messi/Federer
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Just 16 years old when he made his professional debut in 2003, Lionel Messi has since played over 700 games for FC Barcelona.
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AP/Manu Fernandez/Getty/Quality Sport Images
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Lebron James has taken away the headband, but added tattoos, a beard, and plenty of muscle since high school.
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Getty/Sporting News Archive/John McCoy
Serena Williams was winning trophies in 1991, and she is still doing the same in 2020.
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Getty/Professional Sport/Michael Bradley
Not a lot has changed for the ageless Tom Brady over the past two decades, including his team and shirt number.
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Getty/Boston Globe/Maddie Meyer
Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003: skillful, fast, goal scoring machine. Cristiano Ronaldo in 2020: skillful, fast, goal scoring machine.
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Reuters/Marcos Borga/Getty/Marco Canoniero
Floyd Mayweather has stayed in astonishing shape since making his professional boxing debut in 1996.
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Getty/The Ring Magazine/Jeff Bottari
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Simone Biles has lost her braces since 2013, but has picked up four Olympic gold medals in exchange.
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Getty/Corbis Sport/Kyodo News
Roger Federer sports a much cleaner hairstyle these days compared to the one he rocked in 2000.
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Getty/Mike Hewitt/Marcelo Endelli
29 years ago, a 16-year-old Tiger Woods won the Los Angeles Junior Championship at Griffith Park.
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Getty/Per-Anders Pettersson/Warren Little
Megan Rapinoe made her debut for the USWNT 13 years before guiding it to World Cup glory in 2019.
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Getty/Christian Petersen/Richard Heathcote
Giannis Antetokounmpo went from NBA rookie in 2013 to the leagues MVP in just six years.
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AP/Morry Gash/Getty/Stacy Revere
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Rafael Nadal has the same competitive streak today as he did as a 14-year-old boy in 2000.
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Getty/Manuel Blondeau/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Different sports, same outcome Ronda Rousey was a Judo champion before she rose to the pinnacle of the UFC and the WWE.
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Getty/Harry How/AP/George Napolitano
Aaron Rodgers was playing for the University of California in 2002, but is now an NFL all-time great.
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Getty/Robert B. Stanton/Stacy Revere
Irishman Conor McGregor is barely recognizable from his 2012 days as a Cage Warriors fighter with a shaved head.
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ESPN/Getty/Ethan Miller
See Also:
- Conor McGregor's black belt in jiu jitsu 'is coming,' head trainer John Kavanagh says
- NFL Championship Weekend: Our best bets for who punches their ticket to Super Bowl LIV
- FC Barcelona's new manager is a 'gamble' who may not last 6 months, according to the country's most prominent soccer journalist
SEE ALSO: The 50 best soccer players in the world in 2019