Established in 2000, the Laureus World Sports Awards represent some of the highest honors in sports. The annual event is held to acknowledge and honor the most outstanding and inspirational sports achievements of the year. The award ceremony also highlights the work of the Laureus Sport for Good initiative. The Laureus World Sports Awards returned to an in-person format in Paris for the first time since 2020, and the winners for the 2023 edition were recently announced.
Popularly referred to as the sporting equivalent of the Oscars, the first-ever Laureus World Sports Award was conferred on American golfer Tiger Woods. The categories for the awards span a variety of accolades, including Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Team of the Year, Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Action Sportsperson of the Year, Sport for Good, and Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year 2023: Lionel Messi
In 2023, the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award was given to Lionel Messi from Argentina. This was the first time a footballer earned this title. Messi had previously received the same honor in 2020.
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2023: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Jamaican athlete Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was named the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year in 2023.
Laureus World Team of the Year 2023: Argentina Men’s Football Team
The Argentina Men’s Football Team won the Laureus World Team of the Year award in 2023.
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year 2023: Carlos Alcaraz
The Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year title was awarded to Carlos Alcaraz from Spain in 2023.
Laureus World Comeback of the Year 2023: Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen from Denmark was given the title of Laureus World Comeback of the Year in 2023.
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year 2023: Eileen Gu
In 2023, the recipient of the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year award was Eileen Gu from China.
Laureus Sport for Good Winner 2023: TEAMUP
TEAMUP, a psycho-social support intervention developed by War Child, Save the Children and UNICEF Netherlands, was honored with the 2023 Laureus Sport for Good award. The initiative aids children in difficult situations in relieving stress and tension.
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year With a Disability 2023: Catherine Debrunner
Catherine Debrunner from Switzerland was named the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year With a Disability in 2023. This shortlist for this category is provided by the International Paralympic Committee.
Notable Awardees and Records
Roger Federer holds the record for winning the most Laureus awards. Roger Federer has claimed six awards in total, five for Sportsman of the Year and one for Comeback of the Year. Similarly, Serena Williams holds the record for having won the most awards by a female athlete.
Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to win the World Cup in 2022, created history as the first athlete to win both the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in the same year, 2023.
Other Categories of Awards
The Laureus World Sports Awards also includes additional discretionary awards such as the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Sport for Good Award, the Spirit of Sport Award, the Exceptional Achievement Award, and the Sporting Inspiration Award. These are awarded to individuals who have displayed exemplary dedication and perseverance in their respective sports.
Last Modified: February 20, 2024