Messi wins the Laureus award for 'Best Sportsman of the Year'
Leo Messi has won the Laureus Award for 'Best Sportsman of the Year', at a gala that took place in Berlin. The Argentine, who is the first football player to win the individual award, shares the honour with Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who had the same number of votes.
With 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 World Championships and Ballon d'Ors between them, @LewisHamilton and Lionel Messi share the #Laureus20 World Sportsman of the Year award - a moment of sporting history!
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) February 17, 2020
Congratulations guys!#SportUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/7akYcykux2
This is also the first draw in the history of the awards, which has its 20th anniversary this year. After previously being nominated five times, Messi has finally got his hands on the prize.
The Barça striker succeeds Novak Djokovic, and won the award ahead of the likes of Rafael Nadal, Marc Márquez, marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and golfer Tiger Woods.
The new award serves to round off a successful 2019, along with the achievement of the Golden Shoe, the Ballon d'Or, The Best and the Pichichi.
In 2020, Messi has already reached his 500th victory with Barça, and currently leads the table for league goals and assists.