Lionel Messi has been named Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards. Messi, who finally realized his World Cup dream in Qatar, also accepted the Team of the Year award on behalf of Argentina, who beat France on penalties in last year’s epic final. The 35-year-old accepted the accolades at a ceremony in Paris just hours after it was confirmed that he had returned to Paris Saint-Germain following a club suspension.
Messi, who is the first athlete to win both Laureus awards in the same year, thanked his club as well as international teammates.
This is a special honor, 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.
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.”
Messi said.
Messi has apologized for an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia but his PSG future remains uncertain. His contract expires this summer and while his two-year deal included the option of a third year, the expectation is that he will depart the club.
Former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele, speaking at the event before the awards ceremony, said he disagreed with PSG’s decision to suspend Messi and hoped the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner would stay.
It’s inside the club so I can’t know what’s going on, but there are other ways to punish a player internally. It’s his choice. He has done so much, he also has the right to have fun. I hope that Paris will keep him. It’s a shame to lose this kind of players who give pleasure, we need them.”
Makelele said
Manchester United and Denmark footballer Christian Eriksen won a special comeback award after returning to the game following a cardiac arrest.
For me its been a lot more important just coming back and being a person than coming back and doing anything else. For me, the first aim to come back and be a full-time dad and a full-time boyfriend at the time, that’s for me the most important.”
Eriksen said.
Eriksen returned to football in January 2022 by signing for Brentford before earning a summer move to Manchester United. When asked about the best moment from the last year, the midfielder said: There have been a lot of good moments. I had a chance to start my football career again at Brentford. That’s where it started with football terms. But apart from that, for me, not only the last few months but since I’ve come back, being me, being a world player and having my old life back and a second chance is good, he added.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won the 100m gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, won the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award.
