By Victor Kanayo
World Cup winner Lionel Messi has again scooped the Laureus Award, five months after he led Argentina to win the most coveted global soccer title in Qatar.
In winning the award as an individual, his country won Team Laureus Award at the same time.
He received both awards for himself and national team in Paris, the France capital.
The Argentine, who attended the ceremony with wife Antonela Roccuzzo, previously had won the award jointly with British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
The organisers of one of the globally recognised award made this known via its social media handles on Monday May 8, 2023.
As announced while the ceremony was on, the 35-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner defeated his PSG teammate and World Cup rival, Kylian Mbappe, NBA star Stephen Curry, legendary tennis player Rafael Nadal, Formula 1 star Max Verstappen, Pole Vaulter Mondo Duplantis, to clinch the prestigious award.
Nigerian track star, Tobi Amusan, lost her category; Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award to 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, a tennis star from Spain.
Alcaraz won the award after he won the US Open at the age of 19 and became the youngest men’s No. 1 in history.
The Sportswoman of the Year award went to track and field star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, after her triumph in the 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in July.
After his inspirational return to football following a cardiac arrest on the pitch at Euro 2020, Manchester United and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen was presented with the Comeback of the Year award.
Other winners included World Para champion Catherine Debrunner, freestyle skier and Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu, and TeamUp.
The awards are voted for by 71 members of the Laureus Academy, a selection of sporting greats, and has been on since 2000
