Lionel Messi wins Laureus Sportsman of the Year 2023, Argentina bags Team of the Year award

Argentina (Source: Twitter)

Legendary footballer Lionel Messi was crowned the Laureus Sportsman of the Year 2023 at the awards ceremony held in Paris on Monday, 8 May. The Argentina skipper received the prestigious honour for his remarkable achievements in the past year, which included triumph in the FIFA World Cup. Messi is also the first athlete to win the Laureus Sportsman Award twice (2020 and 2023).

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was chosen over other popular athletes like Kylian Mbappe, Rafael Nadal, Stephen Curry, Mondo Duplantis, and Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, Argentina, who defeated France in the Qatar World Cup final, was named Team of the Year. Messi collected the award on behalf of his team, and became the first-ever athlete in history to receive both the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Laureus World Team of the Year Awards in the same year.

What did Messi say in his speech after accepting the award?

"It is always nice to receive recognition of this type, this year I was lucky to fulfill my great dream, to be world champion, it cost me a lot, almost my entire career, in between I went through everything, many joys with Barcelona and many sadness with the national team, but I never stopped, and everything was a lesson for me.

“There were many obstacles along the way but I always tried to improve myself, with the support of my people. I am very grateful: I was able to fulfill my dream and that of an entire country. It took time to arrive but it was the most beautiful thing that happened to me; this award goes to all of Argentina. Thank you very much”, Messi said in his speech.

"I was looking at the names of the incredible legends that won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award before me: Schumacher, Woods, Nadal, Federer, Bolt, Hamilton, Djokovic, it really sunk in what unbelievable company I’m in and what a unique honour this is," Messi said.

Christian Eriksen won the best comeback award

Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for his country in Euro 2020, won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award. Eriksen was carried off the pitch on a stretcher following a horrific incident, and since his comeback, he enjoyed a successful spells with Brentford and Manchester United.

The top women's award went to Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, while tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who won the 2022 US Open, was awarded the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year.