When a sports star is at the top of their game, they’ll often be described as “elite”, “on fire”, “clutch”, or possibly even “GOAT” if they’re particularly successful. But what about when they’re going through a rough patch or their best days are behind them?
For an athlete, few labels sting quite as much as being called “washed” or “cooked." These terms refer to players whose performance has declined, possibly to the point of no return. But while “washed” suggests a sports star is past their prime and it’s unlikely they can compete at the highest level, “cooked” is even more harsh and implies they might as well throw in the towel.
Social media has amplified this terminology to the point that “washed” and “cooked” are widely used against once-great athletes who are now seen as on the way out. One bad season, a string of poor performances, an injury, or even a dumb mistake can cause fans and commentators to decide a former great deserves to be described in such an unforgiving way.
But just which athletes have been feeling the brunt of these terms recently? We’ve taken a dive into the most scrutinized athletes below, based on an analysis of social media discussions, to see which sports stars are the most washed up according to their fans.
The 5 Most Washed Players by Total Posts
We’ll begin by ranking the most washed players by the total number of social media posts in the last 12 months that refer to them as “washed” or “cooked." Prepare yourself for some surprising results!
#1: LeBron James
With an illustrious career that has seen him secure NBA championships with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James became basketball’s all-time leading scorer in 2023.
Though widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA players of all time, recent performances have sparked debate about his current form. A narrow loss to the Chicago Bulls involved a plus-minus of -27 for James, which caused many to question his future in the sport.
And despite a buzzer-beater tip-in that secured a 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers, fans are still saying that he may be washed, although perhaps not quite cooked. With 17,183,280 social media posts talking about LeBron James in the last 12 months, and 68,080 of them mentioning “washed” or “cooked,” he’s the number one washed player by total posts, but only time will tell if this proves to be the case.
#2: Cristiano Ronaldo
One of the greatest and most famous soccer players ever, Cristiano Ronaldo has played for top clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. He currently captains both Al Nassr and the Portuguese national team, and in 2024, he became the first player to score 900 career goals in official matches.
Washed or cooked? Surely not! Well, despite his incredible contributions to soccer, Ronaldo’s recent performances have made fans question his abilities. A Nations League match against Denmark saw an underwhelming performance from Ronaldo, leading to increased scrutiny over his future with the national team.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been mentioned in 16,477,020 social media posts in the last 12 months, with 39,600 of them including “washed” or “cooked."
#3: Lionel Messi
Another soccer great, Lionel Messi has fans all around the globe. Messi has a record-setting eight Ballon d’Or awards to his name, not to mention leading Argentina to a FIFA World Cup victory in 2022! He’s a top athlete who has contributed incredible moments to the sport.
Messi joined Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer in 2023. And while he’s still an outstanding player, recent injuries have sidelined him from many key matches. A groin strain resulted in him missing Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil in 2025.
Sometimes, all it takes is for a player to fall victim to injury, and before they know it, they’re being considered yesterday’s news. There are 17,243,280 social media posts about Lionel Messi in the last 12 months, and 39,220 of them mention “washed” or “cooked."
#4: Aaron Rodgers
NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers is renowned for his tenure with the Green Bay Packers, leading them to a Super Bowl victory in 2011. He later joined the New York Jets, but an Achilles injury caused challenges for the all-star player, leading to his release after two seasons.
As a result, Rodgers is now being labeled as washed-up by some fans, as they’re unsure whether he has the ability to perform at an elite level.
Although there were significantly fewer social media posts that mention him in the last 12 months compared to James, Ronaldo, and Messi (2,665,000 in total), 33,260 of them included the terms “washed” or “cooked." This places him at No. 4 on our list.
#5: Joel Embiid
NBA star Joel Embiid is a dominant center for the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s celebrated for his scoring, ball-handling, and defensive prowess, making him an all-around basketball champ. He also led the NBA in scoring during the 2021-22 season.
Despite his achievements and being named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2023, Embiid faced challenges in the 2024-25 season due to a knee injury, which limited him to only 19 games.
This limited availability has caused some fans to become frustrated and suggest that he shouldn’t have played following his surgery. Good recovery time is a key factor in any sport, yet out of 2,545,520 social media posts in the last 12 months, 17,280 include mentions of Embiid being "washed" or "cooked."
The 5 Most Washed Players by Percentage of Posts
Now let’s take a look at the percentage of social media posts about specific sports stars that include the terms “washed” or “cooked." This means that even though some athletes may have fewer mentions than LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and others, they are actually receiving a greater percentage of negative comments from fans.
#1: Ezekiel Elliott
A longstanding running back for the Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott is an NFL star who was drafted fourth overall in 2016 and led the league in rushing yards in both 2016 and 2018.
After being released by the Cowboys, he had a brief stint with the New England Patriots and then re-signed with the Cowboys.
With the Cowboys, Elliott only recorded 226 rushing yards and three touchdowns over 15 games, a far cry from his previous performance. This could be why he’s been the focus of 217,860 social media posts in the last 12 months, 2.41% of which mentioned “washed” or “cooked."
#2: Deontay Wilder
Professional boxer Deontay Wilder held the World Boxing Council heavyweight title from 2015 to 2020 and was the first American world heavyweight champion since 2007. Known for his formidable knockout power, Wilder has fans all around the globe, and his knockout-to-win ratio stands at 97.67%.
Despite this, recent bouts have seen Wilder’s performance dip, such as losses to Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker, and Zhilei Zang. These setbacks have led some fans to wonder if he’s at the point of becoming washed up.
There have been 216,680 social media posts about Deontay Wilder over the last 12 months, 1.81% of which include the terms “washed” or “cooked."
#3: DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan, the center for the NBA's Denver Nuggets, has an impressive career to his name. Exceptional rebounding and shot-blocking abilities have seen him become a basketball superstar, especially when he contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds in a victorious game against the Houston Rockets.
Unfortunately, analysts are now suggesting that Jordan is lacking effectiveness and may no longer be able to play meaningful minutes at a high level. Add to this his reduced statistics, and you could argue that these have contributed to 1.81% of his 45,380 social media mentions over the last 12 months, including references to being “washed” or “cooked."
#4: Colby Covington
Colby Covington is known for being an outstanding mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC’s welterweight division. During his time in MMA, Covington has been considered a top contender thanks to an interim UFC Welterweight Championship win in 2018, a victory over Robbie Lawler in 2019, and defeating Tyron Woodley in 2020.
However, recent developments have seen Covington’s prowess take a hit. His third-round TKO defeat to Joaquin Buckley in 2024 was the fourth loss in his last six fights. This pattern has resulted in 1.47% of 92,520 social media posts in the last 12 months, including references that suggest he may be washed up.
#5: Dalvin Cook
The NFL’s Dalvin Cook is a dynamic running back known for his explosive speed and keen vision on the field. A key player for the Minnesota Vikings after being drafted in 2017, Cook had a standout season in 2019 when he rushed for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns. This earned him his first Pro Bowl selection!
Sadly, in recent years, injuries have led to a decline in Cook’s performance. Multiple seasons have been plagued by injuries, limiting his impact on the field and causing him to miss games. As a result, there have been 53,620 social media posts about Dalvin Cook in the last 12 months, with 1.34% of them referencing “washed” or “cooked."
Proving the Doubters Wrong?
The prevalence of social media has undoubtedly fueled a critical culture, especially for sports stars. These rankings highlight how quickly fans and analysts can turn on an athlete when their performance dips, often disregarding the years of achievement and dedication that came before.
However, even when a sports star is referred to as “washed” or “cooked," they can still stun audiences with incredible feats of talent and prove they have plenty left in the tank.
So, while some sports stars may be unfairly labeled as being past their prime, don’t be too quick to count them out. After all, even the greatest athletes experience slumps at some point, but it’s often the comeback that makes them a true legend.
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Methodology
To identify the sports stars most frequently labeled as “washed” or “cooked,” Action Network analyzed social media conversations across X, Instagram, and Reddit.
The study tracked mentions of these terms in relation to 100 athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, Soccer, F1, UFC, Boxing, Tennis, and more. For each athlete, the total number of social media posts was recorded over the last 12 months, along with the volume and percentage of posts using these descriptors.
By calculating the proportion of “washed” and “cooked” mentions within each athlete’s overall discussion, we determined which sports stars face the most criticism regarding their perceived decline.
Data correct as of March 21st.
