Lionel Messi was crowned Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday.
“Maker of history!” Lionel Messi is the only athlete in history to win both the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and the Laureus World Team of the Year Awards in the same year, according to Laureus.
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup on penalties after defeating 2018 champions France 4-2 on penalties in Qatar.
The Argentine national team was named World Team of the Year, and Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen was named World Comeback of the Year.
Eriksen, 31, suffered a heart episode during a EURO 2020 match at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium last year.
Eriksen did not play for Inter Milan or his country for several months before signing on as a free agent with Brentford during the 2022 winter transfer window.
“His return to the highest level of football is truly remarkable,” Laureus tweeted.
Complete list of honorees:
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, athlete, was named World Sportswoman of the Year.
Argentina’s men’s football team has been named World Team of the Year.
– Carlos Alcaraz, tennis player, was named World Breakthrough of the Year.
– Catherine Debrunner, paralympic athlete, was named World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
– Eileen Gu, freestyle skier, was named World Action Sportsperson of the Year.
– Sport for Good Award: TeamUp (A program for war-displaced children)