Aitana Bonmati and Novak Djokovic win top Laureus World Sports Awards
At the Laureus awards ceremony on Monday, Aitana Bonmati, the talented midfielder from Spain's World Cup-winning team, was honored as the Sportswoman of the Year.
This recognition adds to her impressive list of achievements, including winning FIFA's The Best, Ballon d'Or, and World Cup MVP titles.
Bonmati also had the privilege of accepting another award on behalf of the Spanish women's football team, who were named Team of the Year, making history as the first female squad to receive this prestigious accolade.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis sensation, claimed the top men's honor at the Laureus awards. The seven-time Super Bowl champion, Tom Brady, presented Djokovic with his fifth Laureus award, acknowledging his exceptional performance in 2023.
Djokovic's remarkable year included winning the US Open and equalling Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam titles. He also reached the finals of all four major tournaments, emerging victorious at the Australian and French Opens while finishing as the runner-up at Wimbledon.
Additionally, Jude Bellingham, the talented England midfielder who has made a significant impact in his debut season with Real Madrid, was recognized as the Breakthrough Player of the Year. Bellingham became the first footballer to receive this prestigious award.
The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are chosen by the global media, and the winners are determined by the esteemed members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. These awards have been presented annually since 2000, celebrating the outstanding achievements of athletes from around the world.
Here is the list of winners at the Laureus World Sports Awards:
- World Sportswoman of the Year: Aitana Bonmati
- World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic
- World Team of the Year: Spain Women's Football Team
- World Breakthrough of the Year: Jude Bellingham
- World Comeback of the Year: Simone Biles.
- World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Diede de Groot
- World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Arisa Trew
- Laureus Sport for Good: Rafa Nadal Foundation
Chris John