the.com/contender
Not the winner — the one the winner has to worry about.
means A person or thing with a genuine, credible shot at winning a competition or title.
from From Latin contendere, to strain or stretch alongside others — literally straining together toward the same prize, sweat included.
Brando's lineI coulda been a contender immortalized the word forever.
Boxing rootsLong the sport's title for ranked title hopefuls.
Verb siblingTo contend means to argue, assert, or compete.