Ayo Victor
Madrid: The sporting world turned its eyes to Madrid on April 20, 2026, as the Laureus World Sports Awards honored the elite athletes who defined the previous year. In a star-studded ceremony hosted by legends Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu, the evening celebrated historic “firsts” and enduring legacies.
Top Individual Honors
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World Sportsman of the Year: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain, Tennis). At 22 years old, Alcaraz became the youngest-ever recipient of this award. Following his two Grand Slam titles in 2025 (French and US Opens), he joins the “Big Three”—Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—as a winner of the prestigious statuette.
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World Sportswoman of the Year: Aryna Sabalenka (Tennis). Sabalenka was recognized for her dominance in 2025, a year in which she held the World No. 1 ranking for all 365 days, defended her US Open title, and secured a third victory at the Madrid Open.
Team and Breakthrough Success
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World Team of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain. The football giants claimed this honor after an unprecedented six-title sweep in 2025, including their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.
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World Breakthrough of the Year: Lando Norris (UK, Formula One). After securing his first Drivers’ Championship with seven race wins in the 2025 season, Norris became the third British driver to win this category.
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World Comeback of the Year: Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland, Golf). McIlroy was honored for completing the career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters, ending an 11-year drought between Major titles.
Specialty and Honorary Awards
The Academy also highlighted athletes who have pushed boundaries in specific disciplines and those who have dedicated their lives to the sport.
| Award Category | Winner | Achievement Highlight |
| Young Sportsperson of the Year | Lamine Yamal | First-ever winner of this inaugural award; 18-year-old FC Barcelona star. |
| Action Sportsperson of the Year | Chloe Kim | Snowboarding icon; secured her 8th X Games gold and 3rd world title. |
| Sportsperson with a Disability | Gabriel Araújo | Brazilian Para Swimmer; won 3 gold medals at the World Championships. |
| Sporting Inspiration Award | Toni Kroos | Honored for a legendary career including 6 Champions League titles. |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Nadia Comăneci | Celebrated 50 years after the first “Perfect 10” in Olympic history. |
Sport for Good
The Laureus Sport for Good Award was presented to Fútbol Más. This organization utilizes football to foster resilience and community leadership among young people across three continents, supporting over 300 programs worldwide.
The event concluded with a reminder of the power of sport to change lives, as Carlos Alcaraz noted in his acceptance speech: “Sport is about much more than wins and records; it’s about giving opportunities to young people everywhere.”
The full list of Winners:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award: Carlos Alcaraz
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Aryna Sabalenka
Laureus World Team of the Year Award: Paris Saint-Germain
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lando Norris
Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award: Rory McIlroy
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Gabriel Araújo
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Chloe Kim
Laureus World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal
Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award: Toni Kroos
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Nadia Comăneci
Laureus Sport for Good Award: Fútbol Más
