Before you shoot us down, work with us a little, we are going to be brave enough to take up the gauntlet in what could be an impossible task. Choosing the best sports posters of all time is highly subjective and can vary based on personal preferences and which sports you might be into. However, here are some iconic sports posters that have had a significant impact and are widely recognized as some of the best of all time. 

1, Nigel Mansell vs Aryton Senna 

A classic F1 battle in the very first Spanish Grand Prix to be held at the Circuit de Catalunya. As they approached the start/finish line, Nigel Mansell pulled out of Aryton Senna's slipstream on the La Caixa straight, neck and neck at 195mph while only inches apart, sparks flying and Murray Walker in full voice. 

Mansell vs Senna, Williams vs McLaren and Marlboro vs Camel: 1990s Formula 1 racing summed up in a single image that photographers had just seven seconds to capture.

2, George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as The Rumble in the Jungle, was an epic heavyweight championship boxing match on October 30, 1974, at the 20th of May Stadium (now the Stade Tata Raphaël) in Kinshasa, Zaire. It has been called "arguably the greatest sporting event of the 20th century" and was a major upset, with Ali winning via an 8th round knockout. The run up to the fight had seen Ali come in as a 4-1 outsider to beat the hard hitting and unbeaten Foreman. Also famous for the introduction of the 'rope a dope' tactic it is estimated to have been seen live by over a billion viewers, at a time the most watched sports event ever. 

3, Pele and Bobby Moore swapping jerseys and admiration. This image is immortal and was taken after Brazil defeated England, 1970. The backdrop was that England, the previous1966 World Cup Champions, beaten by Brazil 1-0 in Guadalajara, who then went on to win the tournament, fielding perhaps the finest football team ever seen. The two players had numerous personal battles during the game, having the ultimate respect for each other. And as they exchanged jerseys, the touches, looks, and the sportsmanship between them is all there to see in the image.

4, Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar - When the whistle blew, South Africa changed forever. As the blond Afrikaner shook hands with the black freedom fighter turned president, they instantly forged one of the country's defining images of racial unity. The men came together when Pienaar captained South Africa to victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and showed how much sport transcends EVERYTHING. 

5, Diego Maradona - obviously the 'Hand of God' shot is without doubt a memorable sporting moment that people will talk about forever. But our opinion is that there are many great sports posters that better show the power and grace of Diego Armando Maradona, with the below being a true classic from the 1986 World Cup Final. It felt like he single handedly carried the team through the tournament. Always a player for the big occasion he won the accolade of the Tournaments Best Player or 'Golden Ball'. The first football player player to set the world transfer record twice and a precocious talent, Maradona was given the nickname "El Pibe de Oro" ("The Golden Boy"), a name that stuck with him throughout his career. 

We would love to hear what your top 5 would be in terms of occasions, players or even teams so let us know in the comments? 

Most importantly, when we think about the topic of best sporting occasions or posters the amazing memories come flooding back which is awesome. 

Let us know your thoughts?

Best

Team Topo 

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