Striker Lionel Messi was awarded another trophy this Monday. The Argentine was chosen as the best male athlete of the year at the Laureus Awards, in a ceremony held in Paris, France.
The 35-year-old player was acclaimed for leading his country to the 2022 World Cup. The captain thanked the Academy for recognition in his speech.
“I play in a team sport and Argentina won the World Cup because of our team. To be recognized within that team – and to be the first athlete in a team sport to win the Laureus Male Athlete of the Year Award – is a extraordinary honor,” he said.
History maker! Lionel Messi is the first ever athlete to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Laureus World Team of the Year Awards in the same year.#Laureus23 pic.twitter.com/WJeaBghAMA
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) May 8, 2023
Messi competed with his teammate PSG, Kylian Mbappé, in the category of best male athlete of the year. In addition to the Frenchman, Max Verstappen (Formula 1), Mondo Duplantis (pole vaulting), Rafael Nadal (tennis) and Stephen Curry (basketball) were other names in the running.
“Individual awards are not the reason we play, but the Laureus Awards give us a unique opportunity to celebrate what we do alongside great athletes from other sports,” added Messi.
Two Brazilians were also in contention for this year’s Lauerus Awards. Skateboarder Rayssa Leal and surfer Felipe Toledo, world champions in their respective sports, competed in the “Athlete in Action Sports” category. The winner was China’s Eileen Gu, who won gold in freestyle skiing during the Winter Olympics.
The Laureus Awards have been presented every year since 2000 by the Laureus Academy. The 2023 ceremony was the first to be organized in person since the 2020 one, after two virtual editions due to restrictions linked to the covid-19 pandemic.
See the full list of Laureus Award winners
Best male athlete of the year: Lionel Messi
Best Female Athlete of the Year: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Team of the Year: Argentina men’s soccer team
Revelation of the Year: Carlos Alcaraz
Return of the year: Christian Eriksen
Best athlete of the year: Catherine Debrunner
Action Sports Athlete of the Year: Eileen Gu
Sport for good: TeamUp
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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