Former Australian captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/steve-waugh">Steve Waugh</a> weighed in on the question surrounding <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a>'s future, urging the Indian skipper to honestly assess his own commitment as he leads India into a crucial new phase of Test cricket.
With India set to begin their 2025&ndash;27 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/world-test-championship">World Test Championship</a> (WTC) cycle against England this June, questions are mounting over whether Rohit, who turns 38 on April 30, remains the right man to lead the team&mdash;especially after a dip in form.
Waugh, a member of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/laureus-awards">Laureus World Sports Academy</a>, stressed that the decision to continue as captain must ultimately come from Rohit himself.
"It is totally up to him," Waugh was quoted saying to PTI. "He&rsquo;s the only one who can solve that problem. He&rsquo;s got to look in the mirror and ask: Do I still want to captain India? Am I fully committed? Am I putting in the necessary time and effort?"
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricket-ipl-2025-gujarat-titans-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-result-8987093">IPL 2025: Gill smashes quickfire 90 as Gujarat Titans post 198/3 against Kolkata Knight Riders</a>
Rohit's recent record in Test cricket has come under fire, particularly during India&rsquo;s last three Test series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia.
<h2>'Test cricket is essence of the game'</h2>
Beyond individual concerns, Waugh voiced strong support for preserving Test cricket amid the growing dominance of T20 leagues. He pushed back against recent proposals to alter the WTC format, including suggestions for a two-tier system and bonus points for away wins.
&ldquo;Test cricket is the essence of the game,&rdquo; Waugh said. &ldquo;T20 is great&mdash;entertaining, lucrative&mdash;but players still want to test themselves in the longest format. That&rsquo;s where the true challenge lies.&rdquo;
Waugh also downplayed criticisms around South Africa&rsquo;s qualification for the WTC final despite playing fewer matches and avoiding powerhouses like England and Australia.
&ldquo;You have to do what you can to make things work. It&rsquo;s not a perfect system, but it&rsquo;s working. The two best sides are in the final, and that&rsquo;s what matters.&rdquo;

Cricket, Sports: With questions swirling around Rohit Sharma's future, former Australia captain Steve Waugh said the decision to lead India must come from the man himself

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh weighed in on the question surrounding Rohit Sharma's future, urging the Indian skipper to honestly assess his own commitment as he leads India into a crucial new phase of Test cricket. With India set to begin their 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle against England this June, questions are mounting over whether Rohit, who turns 38 on April 30, remains the right man to lead the team—especially after a dip in form. Waugh, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, stressed that the decision to continue as captain must ultimately come from Rohit himself. "It is totally up to him," Waugh was quoted saying to PTI. "He’s the only one who can solve that problem. He’s got to look in the mirror and ask: Do I still want to captain India? Am I fully committed? Am I putting in the necessary time and effort?" Also Read: IPL 2025: Gill smashes quickfire 90 as Gujarat Titans post 198/3 against Kolkata Knight Riders Rohit's recent record in Test cricket has come under fire, particularly during India’s last three Test series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia. 'Test cricket is essence of the game' Beyond individual concerns, Waugh voiced strong support for preserving Test cricket amid the growing dominance of T20 leagues. He pushed back against recent proposals to alter the WTC format, including suggestions for a two-tier system and bonus points for away wins. “Test cricket is the essence of the game,” Waugh said. “T20 is great—entertaining, lucrative—but players still want to test themselves in the longest format. That’s where the true challenge lies.” Waugh also downplayed criticisms around South Africa’s qualification for the WTC final despite playing fewer matches and avoiding powerhouses like England and Australia. “You have to do what you can to make things work. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s working. The two best sides are in the final, and that’s what matters.”

‘Only Rohit can answer that’: Australia legend Steve Waugh on Indian captain’s future in Tests

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/paulo-dybala">Paulo Dybala</a>, the Argentine World Cup winner, has been announced as a Laureus Ambassador. The 31-year-old initiated his new role with a visit to a Laureus Sport for Good programme in Rome and will be in attendance at the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday.
Dybala won five Serie A titles with Juventus and the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. The Argentine star &ndash; who now plays for AS Roma &ndash; visited Calcio Insieme on Wednesday, a Rome-based project supported by the AS Roma Foundation, which uses football to help children with intellectual disabilities. More than 30 children and young adults were there to meet the new Laureus Ambassador.
The Argentine star after being announced as an Ambassador said, &ldquo;It is a huge honour to join Laureus as an Ambassador. I have been inspired to learn about the incredible work they do, and to see &lsquo;sport for good&rsquo; in action during my visit to Calcio Insieme was a great experience. The Laureus mission, to use sport as a vehicle for societal change, is inspiring and I am looking forward to attending a special 25th anniversary Laureus Awards in Madrid in the company of many sporting legends.&rdquo;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/cricket-ipl-2025-variety-is-spice-of-life-says-pbks-skipper-shreyas-iyer-after-huge-win-over-rcb-8977777">IPL 2025: 'Variety is spice of life', says PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer after huge win over RCB</a>
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Joining Dybala at this year&rsquo;s Awards show will be a host of champions including Spanish sporting hero <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rafael-nadal">Rafael Nadal</a>. Nadal brought his illustrious career to a close in 2024 after 22 Grand Slams (including 14 French Open titles) two Olympic gold medals and 81 consecutive matches unbeaten on clay. Nadal has also completed a &lsquo;Laureus Slam&rsquo; as the only athlete to win Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Sportsman of the Year and the Laureus Sport for Good Award.
<h2>'Huge thrill to host Awards once again'</h2>
This year&rsquo;s event will be hosted by ski legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lindsey-vonn">Lindsey Vonn</a>, who won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2011 and picked up the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award eight years later. Vonn &ndash; who hosted the virtual Awards in Seville in 2022 &ndash; launched a daring comeback in December at the age of 40 and secured her first World Cup podium finish in Idaho last month. &nbsp; Vonn, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the 69 sporting legends whose votes determine the winners of the Awards said: &ldquo;It is a huge thrill to host the Awards once again. I enjoyed the experience virtually three years ago in Seville, but this time it will be even more special with everyone actually in attendance. I&rsquo;ve been on both sides of the coin, thankfully I know what it&rsquo;s like to win a Laureus award, and I also know what it&rsquo;s like to vote. Having this perspective makes me appreciate how special Laureus is even more. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Madrid! Vamos!&rdquo; &nbsp; Joining nominees, Laureus Ambassadors and academy members will be sports fans from fashion, film and entertainment. Those attending include: Athletics: Mondo Duplantis, Nawal El Moutawakel, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Tegla Loroupe, Edwin Moses, Letsile Tebogo Basketball: Rudy Fern&aacute;ndez Cricket: Steve Waugh Cycling: Mark Cavendish, Chris Hoy​​ &nbsp; Football: Thiago Alcantara, Kosovare Asllani, Cafu, Fabio Capello, Fernando Carro, Iker Casillas, Paulo Dybala, Luis de la Fuente, Luis Figo, Ruud Gullit, Robin Le Normand, Rafael Louz&aacute;n Gymnastics: Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles, Nadia Comăneci, Li Xiaopeng​ Hockey: Luciana Aymar​ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kayaking: Sa&uacute;l Craviotto Motor Racing: Zak Brown, Emerson Fittipaldi,​ &nbsp; Para archery: Matt Stutzman Para badminton: Qu Zi Mo Para fencing: Bebe Vio Para swimming: Daniel Dias, Teresa Perales, Jiang Yuyan Rowing: Steve Redgrave &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rugby: Sean Fitzpatrick (Laureus Academy Chairman), Bryan Habana, Hugo Porta Skiing: Lara Gut-Behrami, Eileen Gu, Maria Hőfl-Riesch, Lindsey Vonn Squash: Nicol David​ &nbsp; Surfing: Kelly Slater Swimming: Ariarne Titmus​ &nbsp; Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz, Paula Badosa, Mansour Bahrami, Boris Becker, Belinda Bencic, Novak Djokovic, Garbi&ntilde;e Muguruza, Rafael Nadal, Jasmine Paolini, Aryna Sabalenka, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Donna Vekić Windsurfing: Robby Naish

Sports: This year’s event will be hosted by Lindsey Vonn, who won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2011 and Laureus Spirit of Sport Award in 2019

Paulo Dybala, the Argentine World Cup winner, has been announced as a Laureus Ambassador. The 31-year-old initiated his new role with a visit to a Laureus Sport for Good programme in Rome and will be in attendance at the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday. Dybala won five Serie A titles with Juventus and the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. The Argentine star – who now plays for AS Roma – visited Calcio Insieme on Wednesday, a Rome-based project supported by the AS Roma Foundation, which uses football to help children with intellectual disabilities. More than 30 children and young adults were there to meet the new Laureus Ambassador. The Argentine star after being announced as an Ambassador said, “It is a huge honour to join Laureus as an Ambassador. I have been inspired to learn about the incredible work they do, and to see ‘sport for good’ in action during my visit to Calcio Insieme was a great experience. The Laureus mission, to use sport as a vehicle for societal change, is inspiring and I am looking forward to attending a special 25th anniversary Laureus Awards in Madrid in the company of many sporting legends.” Also Read: IPL 2025: 'Variety is spice of life', says PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer after huge win over RCB Joining Dybala at this year’s Awards show will be a host of champions including Spanish sporting hero Rafael Nadal. Nadal brought his illustrious career to a close in 2024 after 22 Grand Slams (including 14 French Open titles) two Olympic gold medals and 81 consecutive matches unbeaten on clay. Nadal has also completed a ‘Laureus Slam’ as the only athlete to win Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Sportsman of the Year and the Laureus Sport for Good Award. 'Huge thrill to host Awards once again' This year’s event will be hosted by ski legend Lindsey Vonn, who won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2011 and picked up the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award eight years later. Vonn – who hosted the virtual Awards in Seville in 2022 – launched a daring comeback in December at the age of 40 and secured her first World Cup podium finish in Idaho last month. Vonn, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the 69 sporting legends whose votes determine the winners of the Awards said: “It is a huge thrill to host the Awards once again. I enjoyed the experience virtually three years ago in Seville, but this time it will be even more special with everyone actually in attendance. I’ve been on both sides of the coin, thankfully I know what it’s like to win a Laureus award, and I also know what it’s like to vote. Having this perspective makes me appreciate how special Laureus is even more. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Madrid! Vamos!” Joining nominees, Laureus Ambassadors and academy members will be sports fans from fashion, film and entertainment. Those attending include: Athletics: Mondo Duplantis, Nawal El Moutawakel, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Tegla Loroupe, Edwin Moses, Letsile Tebogo Basketball: Rudy Fernández Cricket: Steve Waugh Cycling: Mark Cavendish, Chris Hoy Football: Thiago Alcantara, Kosovare Asllani, Cafu, Fabio Capello, Fernando Carro, Iker Casillas, Paulo Dybala, Luis de la Fuente, Luis Figo, Ruud Gullit, Robin Le Normand, Rafael Louzán Gymnastics: Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles, Nadia Comăneci, Li Xiaopeng Hockey: Luciana Aymar Kayaking: Saúl Craviotto Motor Racing: Zak Brown, Emerson Fittipaldi, Para archery: Matt Stutzman Para badminton: Qu Zi Mo Para fencing: Bebe Vio Para swimming: Daniel Dias, Teresa Perales, Jiang Yuyan Rowing: Steve Redgrave Rugby: Sean Fitzpatrick (Laureus Academy Chairman), Bryan Habana, Hugo Porta Skiing: Lara Gut-Behrami, Eileen Gu, Maria Hőfl-Riesch, Lindsey Vonn Squash: Nicol David Surfing: Kelly Slater Swimming: Ariarne Titmus Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz, Paula Badosa, Mansour Bahrami, Boris Becker, Belinda Bencic, Novak Djokovic, Garbiñe Muguruza, Rafael Nadal, Jasmine Paolini, Aryna Sabalenka, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Donna Vekić Windsurfing: Robby Naish

THIS Argentine WC winner is named as Laureus Ambassador ahead of 25th anniversary of Laureus World Sports Awards

Rishabh Pant&rsquo;s unforgettable comeback from a life-threatening car crash to Test glory for India has been recognised with a nomination for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Pant will represent both India and the sport of cricket as the world&rsquo;s biggest sports awards celebrates its 25th anniversary.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a>&rsquo;s story has more drama than any sports movie script: A national hero and a sporting icon who almost lost everything in an accident; a long and testing road to recovery; and finally a heroic comeback on the biggest stage, cheered on by millions of Indian cricket fans. &nbsp; &ldquo;I felt my time in this world was up,&rdquo; said Pant of the accident in December 2020 on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, in which he had to be pulled from his vehicle before it burst into flames. Pant was fortunate not to lose a leg and suffered multiple critical injuries before beginning a 629-day journey back to Test cricket. The movie script ended in the perfect finale&mdash;on his comeback Test, he scored a match-winning century against Bangladesh, equalling MS Dhoni&rsquo;s record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-bought-at-base-price-of-inr-150000-veteran-batter-ajinkya-rahane-set-to-lead-kkr-8774095">IPL 2025: Bought at base price of INR 15000000, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane set to lead KKR</a>
Reflecting on his nomination for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, Rishabh Pant said: &ldquo;I have always believed that the biggest virtue of life is to be grateful for everything God has blessed you with. Over the course of my life, I have focused on being positive and happy in every situation, trusting the power of self-belief and resilience to deal with every challenge. When I survived the near fatal car crash, I realised that I have been fortunate to be a blessed soul, which inspired me to work extremely hard to undo everything and return to the pitch as a better version of myself with greater motivation. I knew that my return to normal life was only half the circle of my comeback and I needed to complete the circle by being committed towards my dream of playing for India again. In 2024, I returned to play for the Indian Test team 629 days after the car crash, the year where we also won the ICC T20 World Cup." &nbsp; "Being nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award is very special to me and an acknowledgement to the efforts of everyone involved in my comeback, right from my family, the BCCI, doctors, medical team, support staff, trainers and the fans. This Award is a symbol of inspiration and commitment, represented by some of the greatest stories in sports. Hence, it's an honour for me to be nominated this year," he added. &nbsp; Pant is joined on the shortlist by gymnast Rebeca Andrade who successfully battled through a tortuous struggle with anterior cruciate ligament injuries to win gold in Paris; ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami and swimmer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ariarne-titmus" rel="dofollow">Ariarne Titmus</a>, who defended her Olympic 400m freestyle title shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour on her ovary; Caeleb Dressel, who won two relay golds in the pool in Paris after a break to address his mental health, and Marc M&aacute;rquez, the Spanish Moto GP ace who won three Grands Prix after an arm injury that threatened his career.
Laureus Ambassador and legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said, &ldquo;I met with Rishabh in March 2023. At that point, he was well on the road to recovery from his injuries, but also still had a way to go. What struck me most was his relentless positivity. We enjoyed a good laugh in each other's company and it was that generosity of spirit and optimism which carried him through &ndash; and saw him cap a remarkable comeback with his return to Test cricket in 2024. He is an example to all sportsmen and women that maintaining a positive approach to injury and setbacks is vital to returning to competitive action.&rdquo;
Meanwhile, the list of contenders for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is a who&rsquo;s who of sporting royalty, including France&rsquo;s Olympic hero L&eacute;on Marchand, tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, pole vaulting great Mondo Duplantis, all-conquering Formula One champion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/max-verstappen">Max Verstappen</a>, and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar. The ceremony will take place in Madrid, Spain, on April 21, 2025.

Sports, Cricket: Nominees for the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards are decided after a vote by the world’s sports media. The ceremony will take place in  Madrid, Spain, on April 21

Rishabh Pant’s unforgettable comeback from a life-threatening car crash to Test glory for India has been recognised with a nomination for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Pant will represent both India and the sport of cricket as the world’s biggest sports awards celebrates its 25th anniversary. Rishabh Pant’s story has more drama than any sports movie script: A national hero and a sporting icon who almost lost everything in an accident; a long and testing road to recovery; and finally a heroic comeback on the biggest stage, cheered on by millions of Indian cricket fans. “I felt my time in this world was up,” said Pant of the accident in December 2020 on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, in which he had to be pulled from his vehicle before it burst into flames. Pant was fortunate not to lose a leg and suffered multiple critical injuries before beginning a 629-day journey back to Test cricket. The movie script ended in the perfect finale—on his comeback Test, he scored a match-winning century against Bangladesh, equalling MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper. Also Read: IPL 2025: Bought at base price of INR 15000000, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane set to lead KKR Reflecting on his nomination for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, Rishabh Pant said: “I have always believed that the biggest virtue of life is to be grateful for everything God has blessed you with. Over the course of my life, I have focused on being positive and happy in every situation, trusting the power of self-belief and resilience to deal with every challenge. When I survived the near fatal car crash, I realised that I have been fortunate to be a blessed soul, which inspired me to work extremely hard to undo everything and return to the pitch as a better version of myself with greater motivation. I knew that my return to normal life was only half the circle of my comeback and I needed to complete the circle by being committed towards my dream of playing for India again. In 2024, I returned to play for the Indian Test team 629 days after the car crash, the year where we also won the ICC T20 World Cup." "Being nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award is very special to me and an acknowledgement to the efforts of everyone involved in my comeback, right from my family, the BCCI, doctors, medical team, support staff, trainers and the fans. This Award is a symbol of inspiration and commitment, represented by some of the greatest stories in sports. Hence, it's an honour for me to be nominated this year," he added. Pant is joined on the shortlist by gymnast Rebeca Andrade who successfully battled through a tortuous struggle with anterior cruciate ligament injuries to win gold in Paris; ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami and swimmer Ariarne Titmus, who defended her Olympic 400m freestyle title shortly after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour on her ovary; Caeleb Dressel, who won two relay golds in the pool in Paris after a break to address his mental health, and Marc Márquez, the Spanish Moto GP ace who won three Grands Prix after an arm injury that threatened his career. Laureus Ambassador and legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh said, “I met with Rishabh in March 2023. At that point, he was well on the road to recovery from his injuries, but also still had a way to go. What struck me most was his relentless positivity. We enjoyed a good laugh in each other's company and it was that generosity of spirit and optimism which carried him through – and saw him cap a remarkable comeback with his return to Test cricket in 2024. He is an example to all sportsmen and women that maintaining a positive approach to injury and setbacks is vital to returning to competitive action.” Meanwhile, the list of contenders for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is a who’s who of sporting royalty, including France’s Olympic hero Léon Marchand, tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, pole vaulting great Mondo Duplantis, all-conquering Formula One champion Max Verstappen, and Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar. The ceremony will take place in Madrid, Spain, on April 21, 2025.

After Sachin Tendulkar, Rishabh Pant becomes second Indian cricketer to be nominated for Laureus Award

Jannik Sinner had his nomination for the prestigious Laureus Sportsman of the Year award withdrawn on Thursday after he was banned for three months following two failed drugs tests, an official said.
<h2>Sinner dropped from list</h2>
The world number one from Italy, who is the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, twice tested positive for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in March last year.
"Following discussions by the Laureus Academy it has been decided that Jannik Sinner's nomination for this year's Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is to be withdrawn," said the awards body chairman Sean Fitzpatrick, the former New Zealand rugby union great.
"We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and - whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved - feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible.&nbsp;
"Jannik and his team have been informed."
Earlier in February, the 23-year-old Sinner agreed to a three-month ban from tennis after admitting "partial responsibility" for team mistakes which led to him twice testing positive in March 2024.
His suspension ends on May 4, allowing him to return in time for the French Open, the season's second Grand Slam event of the year.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-ravi-shastris-advice-for-drowning-england-after-afghanistan-bashing-8761218" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Champions Trophy: Ravi Shastri&rsquo;s advice for drowning England after Afghanistan bashing</a>
The Laureus awards have been offered annually since 2000 by a 69-strong jury comprised of sporting greats who make up the Laureus Academy.
In 2024, fellow tennis star Novak Djokovic took the sportsman of the year award for a record fifth time.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Tennis: Jannik Sinner's suspension ends on May 4, allowing him to return in time for the French Open, the season's second Grand Slam event of the year.

Jannik Sinner had his nomination for the prestigious Laureus Sportsman of the Year award withdrawn on Thursday after he was banned for three months following two failed drugs tests, an official said. Sinner dropped from list The world number one from Italy, who is the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, twice tested positive for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in March last year. "Following discussions by the Laureus Academy it has been decided that Jannik Sinner's nomination for this year's Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award is to be withdrawn," said the awards body chairman Sean Fitzpatrick, the former New Zealand rugby union great. "We have followed this case, the decisions of the relevant global bodies and - whilst we note the extenuating circumstances involved - feel that the three-month ban renders the nomination ineligible. "Jannik and his team have been informed." Earlier in February, the 23-year-old Sinner agreed to a three-month ban from tennis after admitting "partial responsibility" for team mistakes which led to him twice testing positive in March 2024. His suspension ends on May 4, allowing him to return in time for the French Open, the season's second Grand Slam event of the year. ALSO READ | Champions Trophy: Ravi Shastri’s advice for drowning England after Afghanistan bashing The Laureus awards have been offered annually since 2000 by a 69-strong jury comprised of sporting greats who make up the Laureus Academy. In 2024, fellow tennis star Novak Djokovic took the sportsman of the year award for a record fifth time. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Jannik Sinner dropped from Laureus awards list after doping ban

Argentina's World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year, while sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bagged the top women's honour at the awards ceremony on Monday.

Messi also received an award on behalf of the Argentina men's football team, who were named World Team of the Year after their triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 35-year-old Paris St Germain forward has previously won the award once before, sharing it with&nbsp;Formula&nbsp;One&nbsp;driver Lewis Hamilton in 2020.

Messi also became the first athlete to scoop both the World Sportsman of the Year Award and the World Team of the Year Award in the same year. "I was looking at the names of the incredible legends that won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award before me: Schumacher, Woods, Nadal, Federer, Bolt, Hamilton, Djokovic… it really sunk in what unbelievable company I’m in and what a unique honour this is," Messi said.

Jamaican Fraser-Pryce enjoyed an outstanding 2022, which included winning the 100m gold at the World Athletics Championships. Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who won the 2022 U.S. Open and rose to number&nbsp;one&nbsp;in the ATP rankings, was named the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year.

Christian Eriksen, who recovered from the cardiac arrest he suffered at the European Championship in 2021 to return to Premier League football with Brentford and then Manchester United before competing at the World Cup with Denmark, received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-on-his-way-to-saudi-following-psg-fallout-to-be-joined-by-former-teammates-at-al-hilal-reports-590356">Lionel Messi on his way to Saudi following PSG fallout, to be joined by former teammates at Al Hilal - Reports</a>

The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners are determined by the 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The awards have been presented annually since their inception in 2000.

List of winners:

World Sportsman of the Year Award: Lionel MessiWorld Sportswoman of the Year Award: Shelly-Ann Fraser-PryceWorld Team of the Year Award: Argentina Men’s Football TeamWorld Breakthrough of the Year Award: Carlos AlcarazWorld Comeback of the Year Award: Christian EriksenWorld Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Catherine DebrunnerWorld Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Eileen GuLaureus Sport for Good Award: TeamUp

Argentina's World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year, while sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bagged the top women's honour at the awards ceremony on Monday.

Argentina's World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year, while sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bagged the top women's honour at the awards ceremony on Monday. Messi also received an award on behalf of the Argentina men's football team, who were named World Team of the Year after their triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 35-year-old Paris St Germain forward has previously won the award once before, sharing it with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton in 2020. Messi also became the first athlete to scoop both the World Sportsman of the Year Award and the World Team of the Year Award in the same year. "I was looking at the names of the incredible legends that won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award before me: Schumacher, Woods, Nadal, Federer, Bolt, Hamilton, Djokovic… it really sunk in what unbelievable company I’m in and what a unique honour this is," Messi said. Jamaican Fraser-Pryce enjoyed an outstanding 2022, which included winning the 100m gold at the World Athletics Championships. Tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who won the 2022 U.S. Open and rose to number one in the ATP rankings, was named the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year. Christian Eriksen, who recovered from the cardiac arrest he suffered at the European Championship in 2021 to return to Premier League football with Brentford and then Manchester United before competing at the World Cup with Denmark, received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Also Read: Lionel Messi on his way to Saudi following PSG fallout, to be joined by former teammates at Al Hilal - Reports The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners are determined by the 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The awards have been presented annually since their inception in 2000. List of winners: World Sportsman of the Year Award: Lionel MessiWorld Sportswoman of the Year Award: Shelly-Ann Fraser-PryceWorld Team of the Year Award: Argentina Men’s Football TeamWorld Breakthrough of the Year Award: Carlos AlcarazWorld Comeback of the Year Award: Christian EriksenWorld Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Catherine DebrunnerWorld Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Eileen GuLaureus Sport for Good Award: TeamUp

Argentina captain Lionel Messi and sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce win top Laureus awards

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen and triple Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah won the&nbsp;Laureus&nbsp;World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards Sunday in a virtual ceremony from Seville.

Dutchman Verstappen, who won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix earlier Sunday, follows Rafael Nadal who won the men's award last year and his great rival Lewis Hamilton, who shared the men's prize with Lionel Messi in 2020.

Thompson-Herah is not the first Jamaican sprinter to win an award.&nbsp;

"I know Usain (Bolt) has won&nbsp;Laureus&nbsp;Awards before, so to bring this trophy back home to the Caribbean, also in Jamaica, is very special," she said.

The awards are organised by the&nbsp;Laureus&nbsp;Sports Foundation and the 2021 winners were selected by a 71-member panel led by All Black rugby great Sean Fitzpatrick.

In a sign of how ephemeral sporting achievements can be, the Italian men's football team, who followed winning the Euros last year with missing the World Cup this spring, were voted the 'Team of the Year', for a second time.

British tennis starlet Emma Raducanu, who has struggled for consistency since winning the US Open last year, received the 'Breakthrough of the Year' award.

The ceremony mopped up other big stars with a series of special awards.&nbsp;

NFL quarterback Tom Brady, a 44-year-old seven-time winner Super Bowl winner who retired then unretired after last season, received a 'Lifetime Achievement' award.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who broke Gerd Mueller's Bundesliga scoring record, was given an 'Exceptional Achievement' award.&nbsp;

Seven-time elite motorbike champion Valentino Rossi won the 'Sporting Icon' award, after retiring in November at the end of a 25-year career.

"This Award was founded in the year 2000 when Nelson Mandela said 'sport has the power to change the world' and I totally agree with that," said Brady.

"Pele was voted for this Award in 2000. Billie Jean King was voted last year. People I really looked up to."

Skateboarder Sky Brown won the 'Comeback of the Year' award aged 13.&nbsp;

She fractured her skull in training in June 2020 and was unresponsive when she arrived at the hospital. She recovered and competed in Tokyo winning bronze and becoming Britain's youngest Olympic medallist at 13 years and 28 days.

Swiss wheelchair racer Marcel Hug was named 'World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability' for the second time after winning Tokyo Paralympics golds in 800, 1,500, with a world record time, 5,000 and marathon.&nbsp;

He also won the Berlin, New York and Boston marathons in 2021.

Briton Bethany Shriever took the 'Action Sportsperson' award after winning both Olympic and World Championship BMX golds. She financed her Olympic campaign with crowdfunding after UK Sport cut support.

The Real Madrid Foundation and a Chicago youth baseball programme Lost Boyz Inc, were also recognised with awards.

Gerald Asamoah, a former Germany international, and other black German footballers known collectively as the 'Black Eagles' won the 'Athlete Advocate' award for campaigning against racism.

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen and triple Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah won the Laureus World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards Sunday in a virtual ceremony from Seville.

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen and triple Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah won the Laureus World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards Sunday in a virtual ceremony from Seville. Dutchman Verstappen, who won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix earlier Sunday, follows Rafael Nadal who won the men's award last year and his great rival Lewis Hamilton, who shared the men's prize with Lionel Messi in 2020. Thompson-Herah is not the first Jamaican sprinter to win an award. "I know Usain (Bolt) has won Laureus Awards before, so to bring this trophy back home to the Caribbean, also in Jamaica, is very special," she said. The awards are organised by the Laureus Sports Foundation and the 2021 winners were selected by a 71-member panel led by All Black rugby great Sean Fitzpatrick. In a sign of how ephemeral sporting achievements can be, the Italian men's football team, who followed winning the Euros last year with missing the World Cup this spring, were voted the 'Team of the Year', for a second time. British tennis starlet Emma Raducanu, who has struggled for consistency since winning the US Open last year, received the 'Breakthrough of the Year' award. The ceremony mopped up other big stars with a series of special awards. NFL quarterback Tom Brady, a 44-year-old seven-time winner Super Bowl winner who retired then unretired after last season, received a 'Lifetime Achievement' award. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who broke Gerd Mueller's Bundesliga scoring record, was given an 'Exceptional Achievement' award. Seven-time elite motorbike champion Valentino Rossi won the 'Sporting Icon' award, after retiring in November at the end of a 25-year career. "This Award was founded in the year 2000 when Nelson Mandela said 'sport has the power to change the world' and I totally agree with that," said Brady. "Pele was voted for this Award in 2000. Billie Jean King was voted last year. People I really looked up to." Skateboarder Sky Brown won the 'Comeback of the Year' award aged 13. She fractured her skull in training in June 2020 and was unresponsive when she arrived at the hospital. She recovered and competed in Tokyo winning bronze and becoming Britain's youngest Olympic medallist at 13 years and 28 days. Swiss wheelchair racer Marcel Hug was named 'World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability' for the second time after winning Tokyo Paralympics golds in 800, 1,500, with a world record time, 5,000 and marathon. He also won the Berlin, New York and Boston marathons in 2021. Briton Bethany Shriever took the 'Action Sportsperson' award after winning both Olympic and World Championship BMX golds. She financed her Olympic campaign with crowdfunding after UK Sport cut support. The Real Madrid Foundation and a Chicago youth baseball programme Lost Boyz Inc, were also recognised with awards. Gerald Asamoah, a former Germany international, and other black German footballers known collectively as the 'Black Eagles' won the 'Athlete Advocate' award for campaigning against racism.

F-1 champion Verstappen, Olympian Thompson-Herah win Laureus awards

Sachin Tendulkar thanked his fans for a massive win at the Laureus Award for Sporting Moment. The Indian cricketing legend&nbsp;took to twitter to dedicated his award to India, his teammates, fans and well-wishers across the world who support Indian Cricket.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sports-news-sachin-tendulkar-wins-laureus-award-for-sporting-moment-for-his-2011-world-cup-victory-lap-281243">Sachin Tendulkar wins Laureus Award for Sporting Moment for his 2011 World Cup victory lap</a>

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Thank you all for the overwhelming love and support! 
 
I dedicate this <a href="https://twitter.com/LaureusSport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaureusSport</a> award to India 🇮🇳, all my teammates, fans and well wishers in India and across the world who have always supported Indian cricket.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportUnitesUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportUnitesUs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Laureus20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Laureus20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportForGood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportForGood</a> <a href="https://t.co/wiqx0D9e2E">pic.twitter.com/wiqx0D9e2E</a>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1229638511109853184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Sachin Tendulkar's famous lap in Wankhede after 2011 ICC World Cup win has been awarded the prestigious Laureus Award. After ICC World Cup final win, Tendulkar was carried on the shoulders of his teammates. Virat Kohli (who was among those who carried Tendulkar), had said that "Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years; It was time we carried him."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-appeals-fans-to-vote-for-sachin-tendulkar-for-laureus-sports-awards-279775">Let's all come together and vote for Sachin Tendulkar: Virat Kohli appeals to fans ahead of Laureus Sports Award</a>

The category was open to public voting and the winner was to be decided based on maximum votes, Sachin Tendulkar won the award after receiving mammoth votes.&nbsp;

Sachin Tendulkar had been a key player for the Indian cricket team during his tenure for the Men in Blue (1989-2013) scoring 34,357 runs across all formats. He recently was a part of the 'Bushfire cricket Bash', where he coached Pontings' XI, and also played an over bowled by Ellyse Perry.&nbsp;

Six-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi jointly won the Sportsman of the Year award, whereas, American Gymnast Simone Biles won the Sportswoman of the Year award. &nbsp;

Sachin Tendulkar thanked his fans for a massive win at the Laureus Award for Sporting Moment. The Indian cricketing legend took to twitter to dedicated his award to India, his teammates, fans and well-wishers across the world who support Indian Cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar thanked his fans for a massive win at the Laureus Award for Sporting Moment. The Indian cricketing legend took to twitter to dedicated his award to India, his teammates, fans and well-wishers across the world who support Indian Cricket. Also read: Sachin Tendulkar wins Laureus Award for Sporting Moment for his 2011 World Cup victory lap Thank you all for the overwhelming love and support! I dedicate this @LaureusSport award to India 🇮🇳, all my teammates, fans and well wishers in India and across the world who have always supported Indian cricket.#SportUnitesUs #Laureus20 #SportForGood pic.twitter.com/wiqx0D9e2E — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 18, 2020 × Sachin Tendulkar's famous lap in Wankhede after 2011 ICC World Cup win has been awarded the prestigious Laureus Award. After ICC World Cup final win, Tendulkar was carried on the shoulders of his teammates. Virat Kohli (who was among those who carried Tendulkar), had said that "Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years; It was time we carried him." Also read: Let's all come together and vote for Sachin Tendulkar: Virat Kohli appeals to fans ahead of Laureus Sports Award The category was open to public voting and the winner was to be decided based on maximum votes, Sachin Tendulkar won the award after receiving mammoth votes. Sachin Tendulkar had been a key player for the Indian cricket team during his tenure for the Men in Blue (1989-2013) scoring 34,357 runs across all formats. He recently was a part of the 'Bushfire cricket Bash', where he coached Pontings' XI, and also played an over bowled by Ellyse Perry. Six-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi jointly won the Sportsman of the Year award, whereas, American Gymnast Simone Biles won the Sportswoman of the Year award.

Sachin Tendulkar thanks fans for Laureus Award win

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reacted to Manchester City's ban from European's competition. He said that such things "can't go unpunished". &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-banned-from-european-competition-for-two-seasons-by-uefa-280763">UEFA bans Manchester City from European competition for two seasons</a>

Arsene Wenger shares a sour relationship with Manchester City, especially after he lost some of his best players to them. "They bought all my players," he joked in Berlin. He saw players like Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor (both in 2009), Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri (both 2011) and Bacary Sagna (in 2014) leave for the Manchester City.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sports-news-sachin-tendulkar-wins-laureus-award-for-sporting-moment-for-his-2011-world-cup-victory-lap-281243">Sachin Tendulkar wins Laureus Award for Sporting Moment for his 2011 World Cup victory lap</a>

Arsene Wenger was at the Laureus Sports Awards in Berlin which were held on Monday. He told the reporters to present there: "The rules are what they are and people who don't respect them... have to be punished,".

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/lewis-hamilton-lionel-messi-simon-biles-score-big-at-laureus-awards-checkout-the-list-of-winners-281277">Lewis Hamilton, Lionel Messi, Simon Biles score big at Laureus Awards, here's the list of winners!</a>

"If it is proven that this has been done on purpose, you can not let that go unpunished," he added.&nbsp;

On Friday, UEFA found a "serious" fair-play breach by Manchester City from 2012 to 2016. UEFA imposed a two-year ban on Manchester City, they will be barred to play any European competitions for the next two seasons. Manchester City was also fined $32.5 million.&nbsp;

The matter is to be taken up in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).&nbsp;

Manchester City has won 10 major Trophies ever since Abu Dhabi's powerful Sheikh Mansour took over the charge of the club in 2008. Out of 10 four of them are Premier League titles.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reacted to Manchester City's ban from European's competition. He said that such things "can't go unpunished". Also read: UEFA bans Manchester City from European competition for two seasons Arsene Wenger shares a sour relationship with Manchester City, especially after he lost some of his best players to them.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reacted to Manchester City's ban from European's competition. He said that such things "can't go unpunished". Also read: UEFA bans Manchester City from European competition for two seasons Arsene Wenger shares a sour relationship with Manchester City, especially after he lost some of his best players to them. "They bought all my players," he joked in Berlin. He saw players like Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor (both in 2009), Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri (both 2011) and Bacary Sagna (in 2014) leave for the Manchester City. Also read: Sachin Tendulkar wins Laureus Award for Sporting Moment for his 2011 World Cup victory lap Arsene Wenger was at the Laureus Sports Awards in Berlin which were held on Monday. He told the reporters to present there: "The rules are what they are and people who don't respect them... have to be punished,". Also see: Lewis Hamilton, Lionel Messi, Simon Biles score big at Laureus Awards, here's the list of winners! "If it is proven that this has been done on purpose, you can not let that go unpunished," he added. On Friday, UEFA found a "serious" fair-play breach by Manchester City from 2012 to 2016. UEFA imposed a two-year ban on Manchester City, they will be barred to play any European competitions for the next two seasons. Manchester City was also fined $32.5 million. The matter is to be taken up in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Manchester City has won 10 major Trophies ever since Abu Dhabi's powerful Sheikh Mansour took over the charge of the club in 2008. Out of 10 four of them are Premier League titles. (With inputs from AFP)

Arsene Wenger slams Manchester City over UEFA ban, says 'can't go unpunished'

The list of nominees of the Sportsman of the Year is out. Lewis Hamilton, Eliud Kipchoge, Marc Marquez, Lionel Messi, Rafael Nadal, and Tiger woods are in the contentions.

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It's time to announce the nominees for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Laureus20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Laureus20</a> World Sports Awards 🙌 
 
Introducing the six contenders for Sportsman of the Year... 
 
May the best man win 👊 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportUnitesUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportUnitesUs</a> <a href="https://t.co/2X8C7yNFM9">pic.twitter.com/2X8C7yNFM9</a>
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaureusSport/status/1217432393176489986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Each individual has had the successful year of 2019, they won huge in their respective sports.

Novak Djokovic won the 'Sportsman of the Year' award last year.&nbsp;

Lewis Hamilton is the current Formula 1 Champion, the Britisher has won a total of six F1 championships. His team Mercedes is nominated for the Team of the Year category.&nbsp;

Marc Marquez has won MotoGP in 2019, making it the sixth time for Spaniard.&nbsp;

Eliud Kipchoge, an athlete was first to run a marathon in under two hours.

Tiger Woods made a major comeback after he won the Masters Tournament after 14 years.&nbsp;

Rafael Nadal, is currently the World number 1 in tennis rankings, with the season's record of 3-1, Spaniard managed to earn a spot in the list.

Lionel Messi won his sixth Ballon D'or in December last year after an amazing goal-scoring run for his club Barcelona. The Argentine is one of the favourites to win this award.

F1 team Mercedes, Liverpool Football Club, South Africa’s rugby team, Spain’s men’s basketball team, basketball’s Toronto Raptors, and the United States Women’s Football Team are all competing for the Team of the Year award.&nbsp;

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What a year 2019 was for team sports ⚽️🏎🏉🏀 
 
Announcing the following six nominees who have been recognised for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Laureus20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Laureus20</a> Team of the Year category 👀 
 
See you in Berlin! 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportUnitesUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportUnitesUs</a> <a href="https://t.co/JmHhRJBnjV">pic.twitter.com/JmHhRJBnjV</a>
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaureusSport/status/1217432413619531777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In the 'World Sportswoman of the Year' category, Naomi Osaka, the first Asian tennis player to get to number 1 in world rankings is competing against Golden Ball and Golden boot winner Megan Rapinoe gymnastic great Simone Biles, American sprinters Allyson Felix and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce along with US skiing legend Mikaela.

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🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Laureus20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Laureus20</a> Sportswoman of the Year 🏆 
 
These six ladies all had an incredible 2019 and continue to inspire people around the world... 
 
Good luck to them all 🙌 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportUnitesUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportUnitesUs</a> <a href="https://t.co/HugemrYFhz">pic.twitter.com/HugemrYFhz</a>
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaureusSport/status/1217432401732755456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The awards ceremony is set to be held in Berlin on February 17. 
&nbsp;

The list of nominees of the Sportsman of the Year is out. Lewis Hamilton, Eliud Kipchoge, Marc Marquez, Lionel Messi, Rafael Nadal, and Tiger woods are in the contentions.

The list of nominees of the Sportsman of the Year is out. Lewis Hamilton, Eliud Kipchoge, Marc Marquez, Lionel Messi, Rafael Nadal, and Tiger woods are in the contentions. It's time to announce the nominees for the #Laureus20 World Sports Awards 🙌 Introducing the six contenders for Sportsman of the Year... May the best man win 👊 #SportUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/2X8C7yNFM9 — Laureus (@LaureusSport) January 15, 2020 × Each individual has had the successful year of 2019, they won huge in their respective sports. Novak Djokovic won the 'Sportsman of the Year' award last year. Lewis Hamilton is the current Formula 1 Champion, the Britisher has won a total of six F1 championships. His team Mercedes is nominated for the Team of the Year category. Marc Marquez has won MotoGP in 2019, making it the sixth time for Spaniard. Eliud Kipchoge, an athlete was first to run a marathon in under two hours. Tiger Woods made a major comeback after he won the Masters Tournament after 14 years. Rafael Nadal, is currently the World number 1 in tennis rankings, with the season's record of 3-1, Spaniard managed to earn a spot in the list. Lionel Messi won his sixth Ballon D'or in December last year after an amazing goal-scoring run for his club Barcelona. The Argentine is one of the favourites to win this award. F1 team Mercedes, Liverpool Football Club, South Africa’s rugby team, Spain’s men’s basketball team, basketball’s Toronto Raptors, and the United States Women’s Football Team are all competing for the Team of the Year award. What a year 2019 was for team sports ⚽️🏎🏉🏀 Announcing the following six nominees who have been recognised for the #Laureus20 Team of the Year category 👀 See you in Berlin! #SportUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/JmHhRJBnjV — Laureus (@LaureusSport) January 15, 2020 × In the 'World Sportswoman of the Year' category, Naomi Osaka, the first Asian tennis player to get to number 1 in world rankings is competing against Golden Ball and Golden boot winner Megan Rapinoe gymnastic great Simone Biles, American sprinters Allyson Felix and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce along with US skiing legend Mikaela. 🏆 #Laureus20 Sportswoman of the Year 🏆 These six ladies all had an incredible 2019 and continue to inspire people around the world... Good luck to them all 🙌 #SportUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/HugemrYFhz — Laureus (@LaureusSport) January 15, 2020 × The awards ceremony is set to be held in Berlin on February 17.

Laureus Awards 2020: Nominees for best Sportsperson announced

2019 Laureus World Sports Awards: List of winners

SIR CHRIS HOY PREVIEWS LAUREUS AWARDS 2019

WION speaks to Laureus awardess Yuwa

Out of the national team reckoning for a while now, India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh says he will continue playing cricket till 2019 before taking a call on his retirement.

Yuvraj, who last played for India in June 2017 in an ODI, said the upcoming IPL holds great significance for him as a good performance in the T20 event will help him keep in the fray for a spot in the 2019 World Cup.

&quot;I am looking forward to a good IPL. It&#39;s a very important tournament for me as it will only set me to play cricket till 2019. I am looking to play cricket till 2019, whatever cricket I get to play and take a call after that,&quot; Yuvraj told PTI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the 18th Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco.

A regular in the Indian ODI team till the 2011 World Cup triumph before his career was jeopardised by a rare germ cell cancer, Yuvraj&#39;s only regret was that he could not cement his place in the Indian Test side.

&quot;Definitely, in the first 6-7 years of my career when I was at my best I did not get a lot of opportunities because there were such great players in the (Test) team and when I got an opportunity I was diagnosed with cancer. So that regret will always be there but these things are never in my control. I am just looking forward to whatever cricket I get to play,&quot; the 36-year-old all-rounder said.

Yuvraj, who is here as a Laureus ambassador from India, praised Virat Kohli and his men for the character they showed to bounce back in the limited overs series after the close 1-2 loss in the Test rubber.

&quot;I think it is a pretty great performance. They showed a lot of character after losing the Test series. It was as a hard-fought Test series, could have gone either way. But it was a very convincing win in the ODI series. Kohli led from the front with some big runs,&quot; the left-handed batsman said.

&quot;Spinners bowled very well especially Kuldeep (Yadav) and (Yuzvendra) Chahal and got South Africa into trouble. And then they stepped on the gas and won the T20 series 2-1. Going abroad playing three series winning two definitely shows India?s dominance.&quot;

Kohli might have set his sights on winning the upcoming tours of England and Australia but Yuvraj said India will need consistent performances from the players to achieve the goal.

&quot;It&#39;s a good start to believe that you can dominate outside. If you can consistently do that in England and Australia you definitely will have the belief,&quot; he said.

&quot;Now the team is set to conquer the world. England and Australia will be testing series but if we can get some consistent performances it will give a lot of self belief to the players,&quot; he added.

Yuvraj himself has climbed up the ladders of age group cricket to stand where he is today and so he offered some words of advice for the likes of young Prthivi Shaw and Shubman Gill, who have already fetched big money from their respective franchises in the last IPL auctions.

&quot;The more they get better the more money they will earn. So they don?t have to worry about money. They have to focus on how quickly they can do better and play for India,&quot; he said when asked about the Indian Under-19 cricketers.

&quot;I think Prithvi, Shubman, Abhishek Sharma are great talents and hopefully in the next coming years we will see them play for India. I am sure the IPL will give them a great platform to learn from other international players and feel the hype of international cricket. So it&#39;s very important tournament for them and they should enjoy it,&quot; Yuvraj signed off.

A regular in the Indian ODI team till the 2011 World Cup triumph, Yuvraj's only regret was that he could not cement his place in the Indian Test side.

Out of the national team reckoning for a while now, India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh says he will continue playing cricket till 2019 before taking a call on his retirement. Yuvraj, who last played for India in June 2017 in an ODI, said the upcoming IPL holds great significance for him as a good performance in the T20 event will help him keep in the fray for a spot in the 2019 World Cup. "I am looking forward to a good IPL. It's a very important tournament for me as it will only set me to play cricket till 2019. I am looking to play cricket till 2019, whatever cricket I get to play and take a call after that," Yuvraj told PTI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the 18th Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco. A regular in the Indian ODI team till the 2011 World Cup triumph before his career was jeopardised by a rare germ cell cancer, Yuvraj's only regret was that he could not cement his place in the Indian Test side. "Definitely, in the first 6-7 years of my career when I was at my best I did not get a lot of opportunities because there were such great players in the (Test) team and when I got an opportunity I was diagnosed with cancer. So that regret will always be there but these things are never in my control. I am just looking forward to whatever cricket I get to play," the 36-year-old all-rounder said. Yuvraj, who is here as a Laureus ambassador from India, praised Virat Kohli and his men for the character they showed to bounce back in the limited overs series after the close 1-2 loss in the Test rubber. "I think it is a pretty great performance. They showed a lot of character after losing the Test series. It was as a hard-fought Test series, could have gone either way. But it was a very convincing win in the ODI series. Kohli led from the front with some big runs," the left-handed batsman said. "Spinners bowled very well especially Kuldeep (Yadav) and (Yuzvendra) Chahal and got South Africa into trouble. And then they stepped on the gas and won the T20 series 2-1. Going abroad playing three series winning two definitely shows India?s dominance." Kohli might have set his sights on winning the upcoming tours of England and Australia but Yuvraj said India will need consistent performances from the players to achieve the goal. "It's a good start to believe that you can dominate outside. If you can consistently do that in England and Australia you definitely will have the belief," he said. "Now the team is set to conquer the world. England and Australia will be testing series but if we can get some consistent performances it will give a lot of self belief to the players," he added. Yuvraj himself has climbed up the ladders of age group cricket to stand where he is today and so he offered some words of advice for the likes of young Prthivi Shaw and Shubman Gill, who have already fetched big money from their respective franchises in the last IPL auctions. "The more they get better the more money they will earn. So they don?t have to worry about money. They have to focus on how quickly they can do better and play for India," he said when asked about the Indian Under-19 cricketers. "I think Prithvi, Shubman, Abhishek Sharma are great talents and hopefully in the next coming years we will see them play for India. I am sure the IPL will give them a great platform to learn from other international players and feel the hype of international cricket. So it's very important tournament for them and they should enjoy it," Yuvraj signed off.

I will take a call on my career after 2019: Yuvraj Singh

Twenty-time grand slam champion Roger Federer has been honoured with Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Comeback of the Year awards at the 2018 ceremony in Monaco.

The Swiss fought off competition from Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and his tennis rival Rafael Nadal to become the Sportsman of the Year.

The two award wins for the Swiss brought his career total of Laureus Awards to six, making him the the most decorated Laureus Winner in history.

The 36-year-old won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2017 and became the oldest number one after overcoming a serious knee injury.

&quot;It was an unforgettable year for me, to come back after a very difficult 2016, and these awards just make it even more memorable. When I won my first Laureus Award back in 2005, if you had said I would have ended up winning six I would not have believed you. It`s been an amazing ride,&quot; the Sport24 quoted Federer as saying.

Meanwhile, 23-time grand slam winner Serena Williams won the Sportswoman of the Year award.Elsewhere, Mercedes-AMG Petronas was named the Team of the Year award for winning the Formula One constructor&#39;s Championship in 2017.

The 36-year-old won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2017 and became the oldest number one after overcoming a serious knee injury.

Twenty-time grand slam champion Roger Federer has been honoured with Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Comeback of the Year awards at the 2018 ceremony in Monaco. The Swiss fought off competition from Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and his tennis rival Rafael Nadal to become the Sportsman of the Year. The two award wins for the Swiss brought his career total of Laureus Awards to six, making him the the most decorated Laureus Winner in history. The 36-year-old won the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles in 2017 and became the oldest number one after overcoming a serious knee injury. "It was an unforgettable year for me, to come back after a very difficult 2016, and these awards just make it even more memorable. When I won my first Laureus Award back in 2005, if you had said I would have ended up winning six I would not have believed you. It`s been an amazing ride," the Sport24 quoted Federer as saying. Meanwhile, 23-time grand slam winner Serena Williams won the Sportswoman of the Year award.Elsewhere, Mercedes-AMG Petronas was named the Team of the Year award for winning the Formula One constructor's Championship in 2017.

Roger Federer sweeps top honours at Laureus Awards

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