SI's Best Photos of Mario Lemieux

In 1984, Mario Lemieux was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins as the top pick in the NHL Draft. Lemieux—which means "the best" in French—later snapped Wayne Gretzky's seven-year hold on the scoring title and eight-year grip on the Hart Trophy (MVP). A Rookie of the Year, six-time NHL scoring leader, three-time MVP and two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner, "Super Mario"​ made miraculous comebacks from Hodgkin's disease and multiple back injuries and, as an encore, bought the Penguins and saved the team from bankruptcy in 1999. Lemieux led Pittsburgh to two consecutive Stanley Cups in 1991 and '92. Under his ownership, the Penguins won a third Cup in 2009 and a fourth in 2016.​ ​As "Le Magnifique​" celebrates his 51st birthday on Oct. 5, 2016, we present SI's best photos of Mario Lemieux.

SI's Best Photos of Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux

Lane Stewart

Oct. 1, 1984 — Pittsburgh Zoo

Mario Lemieux

Lane Stewart

Oct. 1, 1984 — Pittsburgh Zoo

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Nov. 11, 1989 — Penguins vs. Nordiques

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Feb. 6, 1989 SI cover

Mario Lemieux and Jon Casey

David E. Klutho

May 17, 1991 — Stanley Cup Final, Game 2 (Penguins vs. North Stars)

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

May 25, 1991 — Stanley Cup Final, Game 6 (Penguins vs. North Stars)

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

June 1, 1992 — Stanley Cup Final, Game 4 (Penguins vs. Blackhawks)

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

April 19, 1993 SI cover

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Nov. 22, 1995 — Penguins vs. Sabres

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Nov. 22, 1995 — Penguins vs. Sabres

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

May 28, 1996 — Eastern Conference Finals, Game 5 (Penguins vs. Panthers)

Mario Lemieux

Michael O'Neill

March 19, 1997

Mario Lemieux

Michael O'Neill

March 19, 1997

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

April 23, 1997 — Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals, Game 4 (Penguins vs. Flyers)

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Dec. 27, 2000 — Penguins vs. Maple Leafs

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Dec. 27, 2000 — Penguins vs. Maple Leafs

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Dec. 30, 2000 — Penguins vs. Senators

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Feb. 16, 2001 — Penguins vs. Devils

Mario Lemieux

Lou Capozzola

Feb. 25, 2001 — Penguins vs. Islanders

Mario Lemieux, Stephane Robidas and Jose Theodore

David E. Klutho

Feb. 28, 2001 — Penguins vs. Canadiens

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

March 12, 2001 SI cover

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

April 26, 2001 — Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, Game 1 (Penguins vs. Sabres)

Patrick Roy, Nicklas Lidstrom, Joe Sakic, Mario Lemieux, Paul Kariya and Chris Pronger

John Eder

Sept. 6, 2001

Mario Lemieux and Mike Richter

David E. Klutho

Feb. 24, 2002 — Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Gold medal game (Canada vs. USA)

Mario Lemieux

John Biever

Feb. 24, 2002 — Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Gold medal game (Canada vs. USA)

Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman

David E. Klutho

Chris Pronger, Mario Lemieux, Theo Fleury, Martin Brodeur, Michael Peca and Owen Nolan

David E. Klutho

Feb. 24, 2002 — Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Gold medal game (Canada vs. USA)

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Sept. 14, 2004 — World Cup of Hockey Final (Canada vs. Finland)

Mario Lemieux and Michael Jordan

John Biever

Sept. 17, 2004 — 35th Ryder Cup Matches

Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby

Darren Carroll

Oct. 3, 2005

Mario Lemieux

Lou Capozzola

Oct. 5, 2005 — Penguins vs. Devils

Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux

Lou Capozzola

Oct. 8, 2005 — Penguins vs. Bruins

Mario Lemieux and Hannu Toivonen

Lou Capozzola

Oct. 8, 2005 — Penguins vs. Bruins

Mario Lemieux

Lou Capozzola

June 12, 2009 — Stanley Cup Final, Game 7 (Penguins vs. Red Wings)

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

Dec. 31, 2010 — Winter Classic Legends Game (Penguins vs. Capitals)

Mario Lemieux

David E. Klutho

June 12, 2016 — Stanley Cup Final, Game 6 (Penguins vs. Sharks)