Lionel Messi, the veteran star of Argentina and Paris Saint Germain, received a unique double honor on Monday by winning both the individual and team Laureus awards. Messi’s outstanding performances and those of his nation, which won the World Cup, earned him the prestigious awards.
The 35-year-old Messi finally got his hands on a World Cup winners medal in Qatar last December, after his team defeated France in a thrilling penalty shootout final. This victory was sufficient to earn him the individual accolade, and he also accepted the team award at a prestigious Paris ceremony. Messi, who attended the ceremony with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, had previously shared the award with British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
Despite earning a fine and suspension from PSG for making an unauthorised promotional visit to Saudi Arabia, Messi managed to overcome tough competition, especially from his clubmate Kylian Mbappé, whose World Cup final hat-trick did not earn him glory in Qatar.
On the other hand, Denmark and Manchester United star Christian Eriksen won the Comeback Award for his remarkable return to the top of European football after collapsing with a cardiac arrest during the Euros two years ago. Swiss para-athlete Catherine Debrunner received the Disability Award after winning her first two marathons.
The Sport for Good Award was presented to TeamUp, a program for children displaced by war, by Barcelona and Poland star Robert Lewandowski. Chinese-American Olympic ski freestyle champion Eileen Gu won the World Action Sportsperson award.
These awards have been presented annually since 2000 by a panel of 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, representing the past 50 years of athletic excellence.
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