Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday. Alcaraz claimed the accolade after winning the French Open and US Open in 2024, followed by the Australian Open in January 2025. Sabalenka, the current world number one in women's tennis, earned her award by securing a second straight US Open title. Paris Saint-Germain was named Team of the Year after capturing its maiden Champions League trophy in 2025. The club's breakthrough continental victory marked a historic moment for the French side. Rory McIlroy received the Comeback of the Year award, having successfully defended his Masters title earlier this month. Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal, aged 18, was honoured as Young Sportsperson of the Year. Formula One driver Lando Norris was named Breakthrough of the Year following his first world championship. German footballer Toni Kroos received the Sporting Inspiration Award, while retired Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. American snowboarder Chloe Kim won the Action Sportsperson of the Year. Brazilian para swimmer Gabriel Araújo was named Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. The ceremony was co-hosted by tennis legend Novak Djokovic and freestyle skier Eileen Gu.
Alcaraz won three of the four majors he played over a 12-month stretch, yet missed Wimbledon due to injury — dominance marked by both brilliance and fragility. This trio of Grand Slam titles in such a short span cements his status as the sport's new standard-bearer, even as questions about physical resilience linger. No Nigerian or African athlete featured among the main category winners at the 2025 Laureus Awards. The absence underscores a persistent gap in global individual sporting recognition for African athletes outside traditional endurance disciplines.
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