Two football stars, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, and world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic are on the shortlist for the 2024 Laureus Award (aka the Oscar of sports).
Djokovic and Messi will compete for the 2024 Laureus award.
On February 26, the Laureus organizing committee has just announced the list of 6 candidates for the title of “Male Athlete of the Year”, including: Messi, Haaland (football), Djokovic (tennis), Mondo Duplantis (athletics), Noah Lyles (athletics) and Max Verstappen (motorsport).
As for the title of “Female Athlete of the Year”, there are 5 candidates: Aitana Bonmati (football), Faith Kipyegon (athletics), Sha’Carri Richardson (athletics), Iga Swiatek (tennis) and Mikaela Shiffrin (athletics).
Messi entered the history of American sport
The final winner will be announced in Madrid next April. Messi previously won this award in 2023.
While Haaland was only nominated for this award for the first time, Djokovic has also won this award four times: in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019. If he wins this time, Djokovic will equal the record with Roger Federer. The legendary Swiss tennis player holds the record for winning the most Laureus awards with 5 distinctions.
Previously, Messi and Haaland competed for major titles such as the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best, and both won Messi. Can Haaland surpass Messi this time?
It is known that in addition to the two categories for the best male and female athletes, Laureus also has other award categories, including: Best Sports Team in the World, Breakthrough Phenomenon of the Year, Impressive Comeback of the Year, Paralympic Athlete of the Year…