Messi wins Laureus individual award again

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Paris. Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star footballer Lionel Messi added two prestigious awards to his already impressive list of achievements by winning the Laureus World Sportsman and World Team of the Year titles at a glittering ceremony.

The 35-year-old veteran, who led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar last year, has become the first athlete to win both the awards in the same year, reported Xinhua news agency.

Chinese freeskier Gu Ailing, a two-time gold medalist at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games last year, captured the Action Sportsperson of the Year award.

World Cup-winning captain Messi, who shared the men’s award with Lewis Hamilton in 2020, was joined by 21-time tennis Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, current Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis, basketball player Stefan Carey beat French football international Kylian Mbappe and won the award for the second time.

Messi said, “It is an honor, especially as the Laureus World Sports Awards are taking place this year in Paris, the city that has welcomed me and my family. I would like to thank all my teammates, not only the national Of the team but also of PSG. I haven’t done anything alone and I am grateful to be able to share it all with them.”

Messi scored a total of seven goals, including two in the final, and won the Golden Ball in Qatar last December when he led the South American team to their third World Cup title. The Argentina men’s football team was presented with the team award at the Laureus.

Jamaican sprinter Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won her fifth world 100m title in Eugene last August, won the women’s individual award while tennis US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz was named Breakthrough of the Year.

Manchester United and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen won the Comeback of the Year award after returning to football after collapsing on the field due to cardiac arrest during Euro 2020.

The Laureus Awards were established in 2000 to celebrate sporting excellence over the previous year. This year’s ceremony was held in person after the previous two editions were held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.(INS)

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