Alcaraz and Sabalenka with Psg and Norris and McIlroy triumphant at the Laureus Awards

Carlos Alcaraz won the Laureus Award in the “Sportsman of the Year” category after an extraordinary 2025, crowned with world number 1 on the ATP circuit. Last year Alcaraz won two Grand Slam titles (Roland Garros and US Open), reaching the final at Wimbledon. At just 22 years old, Alcaraz becomes the youngest winner of this award, succeeding legends such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the roll of honour. Alcaraz had already won the Laureus award for “Revelation of the Year” in 2023 and follows in the footsteps of the “Big Three” Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal (the only Spaniard to have won this award before him) and Novak Djokovic.

Among women, Aryna Sabalenka won the “Sportswoman of the Year” award, maintaining first place in the rankings through 2025 and winning major tournaments, including the US Open. Aryna Sabalenka said: “This award is really special for me. Honestly, it’s incredible to hear my name placed alongside that of so many legends. Being recognized by the Laureus Academy means a lot, because they understand what the sacrifices are to achieve certain goals. For me, it’s not just about the victories – it’s about everything behind it. The difficult moments, the pressure, the team, the work every single day. That’s why this award has a different flavor. The list of past winners like Serena Williams, Lindsey Vonn, Simone Biles is truly an inspiration. Some of them I watched growing up, some I competed with, and they all advanced the sport in their own way. If I could inspire even just a few people in the same way, it would mean everything to me. This award is a reminder to continue to improve myself, while staying true to myself.”

Paris Saint-Germain won the “Team of the Year” award after a historic season that culminated in the UEFA Champions League, won in unforgettable fashion with a crushing 5-0 win over Inter Milan in Munich. PSG was also “represented” at the Laureus Awards by nominations in the Sportsman (Ousmane Dembélé) and Breakthrough (Désiré Doué) categories. PSG became the fifth club football team to win a Laureus, after Manchester United (2000), Barcelona (2012), Bayern Munich (2014, 2021) and Real Madrid (2025).

In Formula 1, Lando Norris won the Breakthrough of the Year award after winning the world drivers’ championship. Rory McIlroy received the Comeback of the Year award after completing his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters. The young Lamine Yamal won the first Laureus award as “Young sportsman of the year”. Chloe Kim received the action sports award, while Gabriel Araújo was awarded the Paralympic athlete of the year. The Laureus Sport for Good Award was given to the organization Fútbol Más, which uses football to support young people around the world.

The Sporting Inspiration Award went to Toni Kroos, while the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Nadia Comăneci for her outstanding career and contribution to sport. An award that was given to Comaneci 50 years after her first perfect 10 in artistic gymnastics at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Comaneci won three gold medals at the 1976 Games and another two at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. In 2000 she became a founding member of the Laureus World Sports Academy and played a fundamental role in the growth of the Laureus movement, traveling around the world to give visibility to projects that support different communities, using sport to improve outcomes and opportunities for at-risk youth. Nadia Comaneci is the 20th athlete to receive the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award and the first gymnast to be awarded in this special category.