The present invention relates to a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, a method of manufacturing the negative active material, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the negative active material. The negative active material includes a sphere-shaped first graphite particle that a first particle precursor, a flake-shaped graphite piece, is linked to each other; and at least one second particle dispersed between the flake-shaped graphite pieces inside the sphere-shaped first graphite particle and selected from the group consisting of at least one element particle selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Al, Ge, Pb, and combinations thereof; at least one element compound particle selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Al, Ge, Pb, and combinations thereof; a composite particle including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Al, Ge, Pb, and combinations thereof; a carbon composite particle including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Al, Ge, Pb, and combinations thereof; and a combination particle thereof.