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This is Messi's second time receiving the award, having previously shared it with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
Lionel Messi has been voted as the winner of the prestigious Laureus Sportsman of the Year award, after captaining Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Messi also accepted an award on behalf of the Argentina men's football team, who were named World Team of the Year making him the first athlete to win both awards in the same year.
This is Messi's second time receiving the award, having previously shared it with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton in 2020.
The 35-year-old Paris St Germain forward expressed his gratitude, saying, "I was looking at the names of the incredible legends that won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award before me.”
“[Micheal] Schumacher, [Tiger] Woods, [Rafael] Nadal, [Roger] Federer, [Usain[ Bolt, [Lweis] Hamilton and [Novak] Djokovic. It really sunk in what unbelievable company I’m in and what a unique honour this is."
Jamaican sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was awarded the top women's honour at the ceremony.
The 2022 World Athletics Championships 100m gold medalist had an outstanding year.
Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who won the 2022 U.S. Open and rose to number one in the ATP rankings, was named the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year.
Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award for his inspiring recovery from a cardiac arrest suffered at the European Championship in 2021.
The nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards are selected by the global media, while the winners are chosen by the 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
These awards have been presented annually since their inception in 2000, honouring outstanding athletes and teams from around the world.
The Laureus Sportsman of the Year award is a significant achievement for Messi, who has spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, winning ten La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
After leading Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022, he is now considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.
His latest recognition at the Laureus World Sports Awards adds another feather to his cap, cementing his place as a legendary sportsman.
List of winners:
World Sportsman of the Year Award: Lionel Messi
World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
World Team of the Year Award: Argentina Men’s Football Team
World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Carlos Alcaraz
World Comeback of the Year Award: Christian Eriksen
World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Catherine Debrunner
World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Eileen Gu
Laureus Sport for Good Award: TeamUp
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