And the Laureus World Sport Award nominees are…

Text – Drafting-Laureus. Photography-Laureus.

The countdown to the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards has begun – and the nominations include not just the athletes who lit up the past 12 months, but some of the greatest of all time. So, here’s a chance to play fantasy sports on a different level: Messi v Nadal; Fraser-Pryce v Shiffrin. Pick your favourites ahead of the most prestigious Awards in the world of sport.

See the full list of Nominees

Our Nominees include Lionel Messi, who won the World Cup with Argentina and Rafael Nadal, who ended 2022 alone at the top of the all-time list of men’s Grand Slam champions; Katie Ledecky and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who set records for world titles in the pool and on the track; and Steph Curry and his Golden State Warriors, champions of the NBA for the fourth time in eight years.

And as if the talent on our list of nominations isn’t enough, these Awards will be judged by the 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy – Olympic champions, world record holders, athletes who changed the game, and the ultimate jury on sporting greatness.

In the Spring, winners will be announced across categories including: Sportswoman of the Year; Sportsman of the Year; Team of the Year, Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Action Sportsperson of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award. Other nominees include Iga Świątek, Elena Rybakina, Tiger Woods, Carlos Alcaraz, Christian Eriksen and Max Verstappen.

Five inspirational programmes have also been shortlisted for the Laureus Sport for Good Award, given each year to an individual or organisation who, in the opinion of the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, has made a significant contribution to transforming the lives of children and young people through sport.

Our unique group of judges in the Laureus World Sports Academy have the hard work of selecting the winners. All you have to do is get ready for a celebration of sport like no other. The 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards are coming soon.