The Laureus World Sports Awards are presented annually to sports men and women who have been outstanding in sport during the previous year. For example, the 2017 award is for outstanding achievement in the 2016 calendar year.

Lionel Messi, who won the award in 2020 and 2023, is the only awardee to play in a team sport.

Award Statistics

26 Total Awards
5 Most Wins (Djokovic & Federer)
4 Usain Bolt Wins

Below are the winners of the men's award since the first was given in 2000. There have been several multiple winners, with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic being the most with ten wins combined, while  Usain Bolt has four. In 2020, for the first time there were joint winners in the men's category.

Winners List

Year Winner Other Nominees
2025 Mondo Duplantis
(Sweden)
Athletics		 Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) Tennis
Léon Marchand (France) Swimming
Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) Cycling
Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Motor Racing
2024 Novak Djokovic
(Serbia)
Tennis		 Armand Duplantis, athletics
Erling Haaland, football
Noah Lyles, athletics
Lionel Messi, football
Max Verstappen, motor racing
2023 Lionel Messi
(Argentina)
Association Football		 Stephen Curry, basketball
Armand Duplantis, athletics
Kylian Mbappé, football
Rafael Nadal, tennis
Max Verstappen, motor racing
2022 Max Verstappen
(Netherlands)
Formula One		 Tom Brady, American football
Novak Djokovic, tennis
Caeleb Dressel, swimming
Eliud Kipchoge, athletics
Robert Lewandowski, football
2021 Rafael Nadal
(Spain)
Tennis		 Armand Duplantis, Athletics
Joshua Cheptegei, Athletics
Lebron James, Basketball
Lewis Hamilton, Motor Racing
Robert Lewandowski, Football
2020 Lewis Hamilton (UK, F1)
&
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Football)		 Eliud Kipchoge, athletics
Marc Márquez, MotoGP
Rafael Nadal, tennis
Tiger Woods, golf
2019 Novak Djokovic
(Serbia)
Tennis		 Mo Farah, athletics
Chris Froome, cycling
Lewis Hamilton, Formula One
Rafael Nadal, tennis
Cristiano Ronaldo, football
2018 Roger Federer
(Switzerland)
Tennis		 Mo Farah, athletics
Chris Froome, cycling
Lewis Hamilton, Formula One
Rafael Nadal, tennis
Cristiano Ronaldo, football
2017 Usain Bolt
(Jamaica)
Athletics		 Stephen Curry, Basketball
Mo Farah, Athletics
LeBron James, Basketball
Andy Murray, Tennis
Cristiano Ronaldo, Football
2016 Novak Djokovic
(Serbia)
Tennis		 Usain Bolt, Athletics
Stephen Curry, Basketball
Lewis Hamilton, Formula One
Lionel Messi, Football
Jordan Spieth, Golf
2015 Novak Djokovic
(Serbia)
Tennis		 Lewis Hamilton, Formula One
Renaud Lavillenie, Athletics
Marc Márquez, Motorcycling
Rory McIlroy, Golf
Cristiano Ronaldo, Football
2014 Sebastian Vettel
(Germany)
Formula 1		 Usain Bolt, Athletics
Mo Farah, Athletics
LeBron James, Basketball
Rafael Nadal, Tennis
Cristiano Ronaldo, Football
2013 Usain Bolt
(Jamaica)
Athletics		 Bradley Wiggins, Cycling
Lionel Messi, Football
Michael Phelps, Swimming
Mo Farah, Athletics
Sebastian Vettel, Formula One
2012 Novak Djokovic
(Serbia)
Tennis		 Usain Bolt Athletics
Cadel Evans Cycling
Lionel Messi Football/Soccer
Dirk Nowitzki Basketball
Sebastian Vettel Formula One
2011 Rafael Nadal
(Spain)
Tennis		 Kobe Bryant Basketball
Andres Iniesta Football/Soccer
Lionel Messi Football/Soccer
Manny Pacquiao Boxing
Sebastian Vettel Formula One
2010 Usain Bolt
(Jamaica)
Athletics		 Kenenisa Bekele
Alberto Contador
Roger Federer
Lionel Messi
Valentino Rossi
2009 Usain Bolt
(Jamaica)
Athletics		 Lewis Hamilton Formula One
Rafael Nadal Tennis
Michael Phelps Swimming
Cristiano Ronaldo Football/Soccer
Valentino Rossi Motorcycling
2008 Roger Federer
(Switzerland)
Tennis		 Tyson Gay Athletics
Kaká Football/Soccer
Michael Phelps Swimming
Kimi Räikkönen Formula One
Tiger Woods Golf
2007 Roger Federer
(Switzerland)
Tennis		 Fernando Alonso Formula One
Fabio Cannavaro Football/Soccer
Asafa Powell Athletics
Michael Schumacher Formula One
Tiger Woods Golf
2006 Roger Federer
(Switzerland)
Tennis		 Fernando Alonso Formula One
Lance Armstrong Cycling
Ronaldinho Football/Soccer
Valentino Rossi Motorcycling
Tiger Woods Golf
2005 Roger Federer
(Switzerland)
Tennis		 Lance Armstrong Cycling
Hicham El Guerrouj Athletics
Michael Phelps Swimming
Valentino Rossi Motorcycling
Michael Schumacher Formula One
2004 Michael Schumacher
(Germany)
Formula One		 Lance Armstrong Cycling
Roger Federer Tennis
Michael Phelps Swimming
Valentino Rossi Motorcycling
Jonny Wilkinson Rugby Union
2003 Lance Armstrong
(USA)
Cycling		 Ole Einar Bjørndalen Biathlon
Ronaldo Football/Soccer
Michael Schumacher Formula One
Tiger Woods Golf
2002 Michael Schumacher
(Germany)
Formula One		 Lance Armstrong Cycling
Maurice Greene Athletics
Ian Thorpe Swimming
Tiger Woods Golf
2001 Tiger Woods
(USA)
Golf		 Steve Redgrave Rowing
Michael Schumacher Formula One
Ian Thorpe Swimming
Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming
2000 Tiger Woods
(USA)
Golf		 Andre Agassi Tennis
Maurice Greene Athletics

Athletes with Multiple Wins

  • Novak Djokovic (Serbia) - 5 wins (2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2024)
  • Roger Federer (Switzerland) - 5 wins (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2018)
  • Usain Bolt (Jamaica) - 4 wins (2009, 2010, 2013, 2017)
  • Michael Schumacher (Germany) - 2 wins (2002, 2004)
  • Tiger Woods (USA) - 2 wins (2000, 2001)
  • Rafael Nadal (Spain) - 2 wins (2011, 2021)
  • Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 2 wins (2020, 2023)
“I am incredibly honored to have won my fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award. I think back to 2012, when I won it for the first time as a 24-year-old. I am very proud to be here 12 years later, reflecting on a year that brought me and my fans a lot of excitement and success.”

— Novák Djokovic, upon winning his fifth Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award, April 22, 2024.

Notable Facts

  • 2020 saw the first joint winners in the men's category with Lewis Hamilton and Lionel Messi sharing the award
  • Lionel Messi is the only team sport athlete to win the award, achieving this in 2020 and 2023
  • In 2023, Messi became the first athlete to win both the Sportsman and Team of the Year awards in the same year
  • Tennis dominates the award with 12 total wins across three players
  • The award recognizes achievements from the previous calendar year (e.g., 2025 award for 2024 achievements)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has won the most Laureus World Sportsman of the Year awards?

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer share the record with five wins each. Djokovic won in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2024, while Federer won consecutively from 2005-2008 and again in 2018.

When did the Laureus World Sports Awards begin?

The Laureus World Sports Awards began in 2000, with Tiger Woods winning the first men's award. The awards recognize achievements from the previous calendar year.

Has any team sport athlete won the award?

Yes, Lionel Messi is the only team sport athlete to win, achieving this in 2020 (jointly with Lewis Hamilton) and 2023. All other winners have been from individual sports like tennis, athletics, golf, and motor racing.

Which sport has produced the most winners?

Tennis dominates with 12 wins total. Novak Djokovic has five wins, Roger Federer has five, and Rafael Nadal has two. Athletics is second with five wins, four from Usain Bolt and one from Mondo Duplantis.

Who won the 2025 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year?

Mondo Duplantis from Sweden won the 2025 award for athletics. He defeated nominees including Carlos Alcaraz (tennis), Léon Marchand (swimming), Tadej Pogačar (cycling), and Max Verstappen (motor racing).

Have there ever been joint winners?

Yes, in 2020 Lewis Hamilton and Lionel Messi became the first joint winners in the men's category. This was a unique occurrence in the award's history.