Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked player in the world, was awarded the prestigious title of Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the fifth occasion during a ceremony held in Madrid on Monday. This achievement puts him on par with Roger Federer, making them both the most accomplished male athletes in this particular category.
The 25th edition of the esteemed Laureus Awards took place at the Cibeles Palace, Madrid where numerous prominent figures from the realm of sports, both past and present, gathered to pay tribute to the outstanding athletes, female athletes, and teams of 2023.
Novak Djokovic secured the award in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2019. His outstanding achievements in 2023, which featured seven titles such as three Grand Slam victories (Australian Open, Roland Garros, and US Open), two Masters 1000 titles, a win at the ATP 250 tournament – Adelaide International 1, and a triumph at the Nitto ATP Finals, led to his nomination and acknowledgment. Additionally, Novak reached the Wimbledon final and concluded the year as the number one ranked player in the world for the eighth time.
The Serbian athlete beat Max Verstappen (Formula 1), Lionel Messi (Football), Erling Haaland (Football), Noah Lyles (track and field), and Armand Duplantis (pole vault) to claim the prestigious men’s award.
The nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards are chosen by the international media, while the winners are decided by the esteemed members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of sports,” are presented each year since 2000 to recognize exceptional athletes who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the preceding year.
This year’s list of winners is as follows:
• World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic
• World Sportswoman of the Year: Aitana Bonmati
• World Team of the Year: Spain Women’s Football Team
• World Breakthrough of the Year: Jude Bellingham
• World Comeback of the Year: Simone Biles
• World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Diede de Groot
• World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Arisa Trew
• Laureus Sport for Good: Rafa Nadal Foundation
