9 Greatest Winning Streaks in Sports History (Ranked)

Winning streaks are often more associated with American team sports than their European counterparts. In football, Europe's most popular sport, unbeaten runs are more common due to the possibility of draws. This is less frequent in major American sports leagues, where games often go into overtime to ensure a clear winner and loser.

A winning streak, regardless of its length, is a testament to a team's dominance over its opponents. It becomes a cherished part of a club's history, offering fans a chance to reminisce about a time when their team reigned supreme. In the NBA, for example, the Cleveland Cavaliers made headlines with a remarkable 15-0 start to the season before their streak was ended by the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics.

Given the significance of such feats, it begs the question: what are some of the most impressive win streaks in the history of sport?

Ranking Factors

This list takes a broad approach, spanning various global sports leagues, to showcase winning streaks across different disciplines. The goal is to emphasize the overall impressiveness of such feats, rather than focusing on any single sport.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins

17 wins

The Pittsburgh Penguins, five-time Stanley Cup champions, have a rich and storied history. They became the first team in the salary cap era to win consecutive Stanley Cups and have had several of their legends inducted into the Hall of Fame. However, their journey hasn't always been smooth. In the late 1990s, the franchise faced financial struggles and was on the brink of bankruptcy before Mario Lemieux stepped in and purchased the team in 1999.

A few years before their financial troubles, the Penguins achieved back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 1991 and 1992, with Lemieux leading the charge after being drafted first overall in 1984. His career took an unexpected turn in 1993 when he was diagnosed with cancer, but in a remarkable comeback, Lemieux returned to the ice just two months later.

After Lemieux's return, the Penguins rallied and played at an even higher level, going on to win 17 consecutive games — a streak that set the National Hockey League record for the longest win streak in history. While their playoff run ended with a second-round loss to the New York Islanders, it did little to overshadow the remarkable achievement of their historic winning streak.

8. Cleveland Indians

22 wins

Now known as the Cleveland Guardians, the team—formerly the Indians—enjoyed an extraordinary run during the 2017 season. From August 24th to September 15th, Cleveland won 22 consecutive games, setting a new American League record. That remarkable streak was part of a campaign in which they secured 100 wins, a feat matched by only two other teams in history.

Under the management of Terry Francona and with key performances from ace Corey Kluber and the dynamic duo of Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor, Cleveland took the lead in 19 of the 22 games they won. This incredible run shattered the franchise's previous record of 14 straight victories.

Although the Guardians were eliminated in the 2017 American League Division Series by the New York Yankees, losing a 2-0 series lead to fall 3-2, their historic regular-season streak remains a testament to their dominance during that time.

7. Indianapolis Colts

23 wins

In the 15 years since the Indianapolis Colts set the record for the longest winning streak in NFL history, few teams have come close to matching—or surpassing—it.

Led by legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, a five-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion, the Colts finished the 2008 season on a high, winning eight consecutive games as Manning earned his third MVP award. Unfortunately, Indianapolis couldn't carry that momentum into the postseason, falling to the San Diego Chargers in the Wild Card round, the same team that had eliminated them the previous year.

Building on their strong finish to the 2008 season, the Colts came out hot in 2009, winning their first 14 games and setting the NFL record for the longest regular-season winning streak. With a playoff spot secured, Indianapolis controversially rested their starters for the final two regular-season games, leading to a 14-2 record heading into the playoffs.

While Manning earned a second consecutive MVP and the Colts made it to the Super Bowl, their historic season ended in defeat, as they were beaten by the New Orleans Saints on football's biggest stage.

6. Ajax

26 wins

Ajax, one of the most historically successful clubs in European football, has long been a dominant force in the Netherlands. Their most famous era came in the early 1970s. Rinus Michels, a former player, was appointed manager in 1965, and during his six-year tenure, he introduced the "Total Football" philosophy, with key figures like Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens playing pivotal roles on the field.

After leaving Ajax in 1971 to take over at Barcelona, Michels was succeeded by Stefan Kovacs. Kovacs built on Michels' ideas, leading Ajax to even greater success. Under his guidance, and with players like Cruyff, Neeskens, Ruud Krol, and Arie Haan, Ajax embarked on an incredible run, winning 26 consecutive matches between 1971 and 1972.

Ajax's remarkable form extended across the Eredivisie, Dutch Cup, and European Cup, culminating in a European treble as they triumphed in all three competitions. Their winning streak finally came to an end in March 1972, with the team suffering just one defeat all season.

5. The New Saints

27 wins

At the time of writing, Welsh club The New Saints are participating in their inaugural Europa Conference League campaign, becoming the first team from the Welsh league to compete in a major European competition. Due to UEFA stadium regulations, they are playing their home matches at Shrewsbury Town's Meadow stadium, located just across the English border.

Earlier this year, TNS believed they had matched the record they set a few seasons ago, only to be informed by record-keepers that only victories within a 90-minute period count. This meant that their penalty shootout win over East Fife in the Scottish Challenge Cup did not contribute to their streak, although it didn't diminish their impressive run.

The record that stands, however, is TNS's 27-game winning streak in 2016. Their campaign began with a 2-1 victory over Aberystwyth, setting the stage for an undefeated run across both the Welsh Premier League and the Scottish Challenge Cup.

The streak was finally halted in January 2017 when they drew 3-3 with Newtown in the league. Their loss to St. Mirren in the cup the following February marked their first defeat in any competition since a 3-0 loss to APOEL in Champions League qualification the previous August.

4. Miami Heat

27 wins

As the Miami Heat entered the 2010s, they made a franchise-altering move. After re-signing Dwyane Wade, whom they had drafted in 2003 with the fifth overall pick, they brought in two other stars from Wade's draft class: Chris Bosh from the Toronto Raptors and LeBron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Together known as the Big Three, this powerful trio played together for four full seasons, leading Miami to the NBA Finals each year. Under the guidance of head coach Erik Spoelstra, who is still with the Heat today, their first attempt at a championship ended in disappointment, as they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. However, the following season, with LeBron James earning MVP honors, the Heat secured their first title together by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals.

In the 2013 season, with the addition of veterans Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, the Heat looked poised for another championship run. They achieved this in remarkable fashion, setting a franchise record with a 27-game winning streak, which was the second-longest in NBA history at the time.

James won his fourth MVP award that season, and Miami finished with a 66-16 record. They once again reached the Finals, this time facing the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat triumphed 4-3 in a thrilling seven-game series, highlighted by Ray Allen's iconic game-tying shot in Game 6, one of the most memorable moments in NBA history.

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3. Golden State Warriors

28 wins

The Golden State Warriors built a dynasty in the 2010s, led by coach Steve Kerr and a trio of stars—Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. This period marked a transformation in the NBA, with Curry and Thompson, known as the "Splash Brothers," revolutionizing the game with their three-point shooting, a style that most teams have since adopted.

The Warriors captured the 2014-15 NBA Championship, with Curry earning his first MVP award that season. They finished strong, winning their last four games of the regular season, and kicked off the following year with a historic 24-game win streak, the best start in league history. The Warriors ultimately finished the season with a remarkable 73-9 record, adding Kevin Durant in the offseason to further strengthen their already dominant roster.

Despite setting the record with a 73-9 season and Curry winning his second MVP award—becoming the first player in NBA history to receive the award unanimously—the Warriors were unable to retain their championship. However, this does not diminish the incredible achievement of their historic regular season performance.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

33 wins

The 1970-71 season was a mixed one for the Los Angeles Lakers. While they finished with a solid 48-34 record, they lost star point guard Jerry West to injury with 13 games remaining in the regular season. Despite this setback, they made it to the Western Conference Finals but were defeated by the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.

The following season, with a fully healthy West and a star-studded roster including Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and West himself, the Lakers surged. They finished the regular season with an impressive 69-13 record, the best in NBA history at the time—a mark that would stand until Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls surpassed it in the 1990s.

That season, the Lakers capped their campaign by defeating the New York Knicks 4-1 in the Finals to claim the championship. Along the way, they set an NBA record with a 33-game winning streak, the longest in league history, a record that still stands. This iteration of the Lakers is often considered one of the greatest teams in basketball history.

1. Al Hilal

34 wins

Al Hilal's remarkable 34-game winning streak, recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest in association football, began in September 2023. After a draw with Damac, they won their first match in the King’s Cup against Al-Jabalain 1-0, marking the start of an extraordinary run.

Under the management of Jorge Jesus, and with key players such as Bono, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Saudi side went on to achieve an incredible 34 consecutive victories across the Saudi Pro League, King’s Cup, AFC Champions League, and Saudi Super Cup.

By the end of the season, Al Hilal had secured the Pro League, King’s Cup, and Saudi Super Cup titles. However, their historic streak was finally broken in the first leg of the AFC Champions League semi-finals, where they were defeated 4-2 by Al-Ain, bringing their remarkable 34-game run to a close.