Lionel Messi was crowned World Sportsman of the Year in Paris on Monday evening, saying winning the Laureus Award was “a special honour”.
He was a joint winner of the award alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2020, but this time the Paris Saint-Germain forward took sole honours for leading Argentina to World Cup glory last year.
Messi, 35, won the World Cup for the first time in his glittering career in Qatar, earning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player in the process, and on Monday he also collected the Laureus prize for Team of the Year on behalf of the triumphant Argentina squad.
“This is a special honour, particularly as the Laureus World Sports Awards are in Paris this year, the city that has welcomed my family since we came here in 2021," he said.
“I want to thank all my teammates, not only from the national team but also at PSG. I have achieved none of this alone and I am grateful to be able to share everything with them.
“I want to thank the Laureus Academy. What makes these awards so special to us as athletes is the fact that they are voted for by these incredible champions, my heroes, and this puts my sporting achievements in true context.
“This is the first time I have been the sole winner of the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award and after a year when we finally won another prize we had been chasing for a long time, at the Fifa World Cup in Qatar, it’s an honour to be able to hold this Laureus Statuette.”
Messi wins 2022 Fifa Player of the Year - in pictures
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Argentina's Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain with his award for the Best Fifa Men's Player at a ceremony in Paris, France, on February 27, 2023. EPA -
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi are seen with their trophies after being included in the Fifa Fifpro Men's World 11 2022 squad. Getty -
Argentina's Lionel Messi receives the Best Fifa Men's player award from Fifa president Gianni Infantino. AP -
Lionel Messi speaks to the audience after being awarded with the Best Fifa Men's Payer 2022. Getty -
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, Casemiro of Manchester United and Yassine Bounou of Sevilla with their Fifa Fifpro Men's World 11 Award on stage. EPA -
Lionel Messi shakes hands with Gianni Infantino, president of Fifa. Getty -
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni wins the Best Men's Coach award. AFP -
Alexi Putellas poses with the Best Fifa Women's Player 2022 award. Getty -
Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, right, is congratulated by Lionel Messi after receiving the Best Fifa Men’s Goalkeeper award. EPA -
Argentina's Lionel Messi and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo. EPA -
England and Arsenal forward Beth Mead receives an award for the Fifa Fifpro Women's World 11. AFP -
England's Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman receives the Best Fifa Women’s Coach award. AFP -
England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps delivers a speech. AFP -
Marcin Oleksy speaks to the audience after receiving the Fifa Puskas Award 2022. Getty Images -
Spain and Barcelona forward Alexia Putellas poses on stage after receiving the Best Fifa Women’s Player award. AFP -
France and Olympique Lyonnais defender Wendie Renard receives and award for the Fifa Fifpro Women's World 11. AFP -
Marcia Aoki, widow to Pele, is presented with the Best Fifa Award by Ronaldo. Getty -
Argentina supporter El Tula delivers a speech as he received for Argentina supporters the Best Fifa Fan Award. AFP
Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce scooped World Sportswoman of the Year after winning a record fifth 100 metres gold at the World Championships in 2022.
Manchester United and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen won Comeback of the Year following his return to football after collapsing on the pitch during Euro 2020.
Tennis world number two Carlos Alcaraz was awarded World Breakthrough of the Year.
The award winners were voted for by the sporting greats who make up the members of the Laureus Academy.
