Lionel Messi pips Kylian Mbappe to win Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award

Xtra Time Web Desk: World Cup winning Argentina captain Lionel Messi has won the World Sportsman of the Year prize at Monday’s 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Paris. The Paris Saint Germain star pipped his club teammate Kylian Mbappe for the award.

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, tennis legend Rafael Nadal, NBA icon Stephen Curry and record-breaking pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis had also been nominated.

Messi won the award after leading Argentina to a famous triumph at the FIFA World Cup last year. He attended the event with his wife Antonela Roccuzo. This was the second time that Messi had won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award. He had previously shared the award with Lewis Hamilton in 2020.

FIFA World Cup champions Argentina won the Laureus World Team of the Year award on Monday.

Meanwhile, Manchester United playmaker Christian Eriksen won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year award following his successful return to the Premier League after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field in June 2021.

Barcelona and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski was also recognized for his work with the ‘TeamUp’ program, which was set up to help children displaced by war.

Here is the full list of 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards:

Sportsman of the Year award: Lionel Messi

Sportswoman of the Year award: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Team of the Year award: Argentina men’s football team

Breakthrough of the Year award: Carlos Alcaraz

Comeback of the Year award: Christian Eriksen