Messi cleans up at Laureus

Argentina’s World Cup winning captain, Lionel Messi, made history on Monday night in Paris when he became the first athlete to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award and also pick up the Laureus World Team of the Year accolade in one year.

The Paris Saint Germain forward led his native Argentina to their first FIFA World Cup triumph in 36 years in Qatar last year.

Jamaican speedster, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, scooped up the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award for a memorable 2022, which saw her win the 100m gold medal at the World Athletics Championships.

“I’m really honoured to be here to receive this award and I pray that it would be an inspiration to all Jamaican young girls, to know that there’s no limits, when you believe what you believe and continue to work hard and continue to inspire the next generation,” said Fraser-Pryce.

Spanish teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz’s victory at the 2022 US Open and rise to the world No.1 spot saw him collect the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.

Alcaraz enjoyed a phenomenal 2022 in which he won the US Open and became tennis’ youngest-ever men’s No.1 player. The Spaniard only turned 20 a few days before picking up his award.

Denmark and Manchester United midfielder, Christian Eriksen, took home the World Comeback of the Year Award after recovering from cardiac arrest to return to Premier League football with Brentford and then later United.

At the beginning of 2022, Eriksen was without a club with his future uncertain but ended the year playing every minute of Denmark’s World Cup campaign.

Other notable winners were Barcelona and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski for Academy Exceptional Achievement, the World Sportsperson with a Disability Award went to Catherine Debrunner and World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award went to Eileen Gu.