Laureus World Sports Awards 2025 nominees unveiled as countdown to celebration begins

The stage is set for an exhilarating showcase of sporting excellence, as the nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards have been officially announced. This heralds the countdown to a momentous celebration in 2025.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the prestigious awards, a significant milestone that promises to honour the achievements of the past while inspiring the future of sport.

The Laureus World Sports Awards, often called “The Athletes’ Awards,” are uniquely esteemed, voted on by the 69 legends of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

These accolades are presented at an annual gala, an unparalleled gathering where the planet’s greatest athletes converge, creating an atmosphere brimming with camaraderie and mutual respect.

Leading the charge for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award are standout athletes Léon Marchand, Mondo Duplantis, Carlos Alcaraz, Max Verstappen, and Tadej Pogačar.

Alcaraz said: “Laureus has a special place in my heart and I am deeply honoured to be nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award. In 2023, I won the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award and – as if the evening could get any better – I also met Lionel Messi on the red carpet! When I reflect on 2024, my mind goes to that incredible moment at Wimbledon when I picked up my second men’s singles trophy against Novak Djokovic, an athlete who has won this prestigious Award five times. The Laureus Awards celebrate the very best from the world of sport, and to be nominated for the Sportsman of the Year Award by the world’s media is an achievement and an incredible honour.”  

On the women’s side, the competition is equally fierce. Last year’s Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Aitana Bonmatí, is nominated once more, alongside the celebrated Simone Biles. Other nominees include Faith Kipyegon, who made history as the first three-time Olympic champion in the 1,500 metres, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who continues to set records with her remarkable performances in the hurdles and relay events.

The Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award highlights the rising stars of athletics, with standout nominees including Julien Alfred, Letsile Tebogo, and Summer McIntosh, who each made history in their own right at the Paris Games.

Meanwhile, the team categories promise fierce competition, particularly for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award. Here, Spain’s football teams also face off against the basketball giants from the USA, with the likes of FC Barcelona Women’s Football Team and the Boston Celtics among those vying for top honours.

The nominees have been carefully curated following a comprehensive vote by the 1,300 members of the Laureus Global Media Panel, with contributions from the International Paralympic Committee for the Disability award.

This year also sees the Laureus Sport for Good Award, celebrating grassroots initiatives that use sport for positive social impact, showcasing exceptional programmes that aim to uplift communities worldwide.

Discussing Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award Nominee, Rebeca Andrade, Laureus Academy Member Nadia Comăneci, said: “Rebeca is an inspiration, not only to the gymnastics community and young people growing up in Brazil but to sports fans around the world. Injuries are part of elite sport but coming back from three ACL tears to win multiple Olympic medals is something truly incredible. Rebeca is amazing, I’m so happy for what she has achieved in sport and I’m excited for what she can go on to achieve in LA in 2026. I congratulate Rebeca for her worthy nomination for this year’s Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.”

Among those nominated for the Laureus Sport for Good Award are Kick4Life from South Africa, which employs football to empower at-risk youth, Figure Skating in Harlem, which fosters leadership in young girls, and the Italian Liberi Nantes, which provides inclusive sports programs for underprivileged children.

As anticipation builds for the 2025 event, fans and athletes alike look forward to a night of celebration not just of extraordinary achievements, but of the unifying power of sport.