Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Lionel Messi and the Argentine national soccer team won an impressive double at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards. Messi, who captained the team, led his country to glory at the World Cup in December 2022, scoring an impressive seven goals and winning the Ballon d’Or in the process. In a historic achievement, he also became the first athlete to win the Sportsman and Team of the Year awards in the same year.
Messi expressed his gratitude for the recognition, noting that it was especially significant because the awards ceremony was held in Paris, a city that has become his family’s second home since his arrival in 2021.
Admitting that his success was not achieved in isolation, Lionel Messi stressed the importance of his teammates, both in the national team and at PSG. He emphasized that his achievements were a collective effort, and that he had the privilege of sharing his accomplishments with those who had supported him along the way.
Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the Sportswoman of the Year award after securing her fifth gold medal in the women’s 100m dash at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
With this victory, she surpassed all other athletes in terms of the number of world sprint titles won. In 2022, she clocked under 10.7 seconds seven times, setting a new record for female sprinters in a calendar year. Very happy with her victory, she expressed her gratitude to the members of the Laureus Academy who voted for her, considering the caliber of her fellow nominees.
The Argentina national soccer team, which won the World Cup for the third time, was named Team of the Year after beating France in a thrilling final that ended in a 3-3 draw and a penalty shootout in Doha.
The Laureus Awards also recognized other outstanding athletes, such as Christian Eriksen, for his remarkable comeback after suffering a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020, and Carlos Alcaraz, who became the youngest number one in men’s tennis after winning the US Open in 2022. The winners were selected by members of the Laureus Academy, made up of famous sports personalities.