Tennis took center stage in Madrid on Monday as Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz were honored as Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus Awards. The accolades come after both players enjoyed remarkable seasons, ending the year atop their respective tennis rankings.
Carlos Alcaraz, hailing from Spain, reclaimed his status as the world’s number one following victories at both the French Open and the US Open. His success across various surfaces solidified his reputation as one of the sport’s leading figures. On the other hand, Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus also had an impressive year, having reached finals in both Australia and France, and securing her own championship title in New York.
Sabalenka’s award adds her name to a distinguished list of past recipients from the sport, which includes legends like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. This year’s ceremony was particularly unique, being hosted by two former Laureus winners: Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu. Notably, last year’s top honors were given to gymnast Simone Biles and pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis.
In other categories, Rory McIlroy received the World Comeback of the Year Award for completing his career Grand Slam after an 11-year wait, triumphing at the 2025 Masters, a title he would later defend. Lando Norris earned the title of World Breakthrough of the Year, while Paris St Germain was recognized as World Team of the Year following a successful campaign, which included victories in the French league, Cup, and the Champions League.
The nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards are determined by a global media vote, with the winners selected by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The awards have been celebrated annually since 2000, recognizing outstanding achievements in sports across various categories.
The complete list of winners includes:
- World Sportsman of the Year Award: Carlos Alcaraz
- World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Aryna Sabalenka
- World Team of the Year Award: Paris St Germain
- World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lando Norris
- World Comeback of the Year Award: Rory McIlroy
- World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Gabriel Araujo
- World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Chloe Kim
- World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal
- Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award: Toni Kroos
- Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Nadia Comaneci
- Laureus Sport for Good Award: Futbol Mas
As the awards highlight the achievers in the sports world, they offer a fitting tribute to the dedication, talent, and resilience demonstrated by athletes on the global stage.