The Laureus World Sportsman of the Year is an annual award honoring the achievements of individual men from the world of sports. It was first awarded in 2000.
A panel comprised of global sports journalists selects the candidates for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, with the winner being ultimately determined by votes from members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, an association of sporting icons who accomplished the highest level of excellence in their respective sports.
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic the most Laureus World Sportsman of the Year awards with five wins, while legendary sprinter Usain Bolt has four.
Lionel Messi, who won the award in 2020 and 2023, is the only awardee to play in a team sport. He also made history the first athlete to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award and also pick up the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in the same year.
Also Read: Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award Winners Full List
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Here are the list of athletes who won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: List Of Winners
| Year | Winner | Sport | Other Nominees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mondo Duplantis | Athletics | Carlos Alcaraz (Tennis), Mondo Duplantis (Athletics), Léon Marchand (Swimming), Tadej Pogačar (Cycling), Max Verstappen (Motor Racing) |
| 2024 | Novak Djokovic (Serbia) | Tennis | Armand Duplantis, Erling Haaland, Noah Lyles, Lionel Messi, Max Verstappen |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Football | Stephen Curry, Armand Duplantis, Kylian Mbappé, Rafael Nadal, Max Verstappen |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen (Netherlands) | Formula One | Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, Caeleb Dressel, Eliud Kipchoge, Robert Lewandowski |
| 2021 | Rafael Nadal (Spain) | Tennis | Armand Duplantis, Joshua Cheptegeui, LeBron James, Lewis Hamilton, Robert Lewandowski |
| 2020 | Lewis Hamilton & Lionel Messi | F1 & Football | Eliud Kipchoge, Marc Márquez, Rafael Nadal, Tiger Woods |
| 2019 | Novak Djokovic (Serbia) | Tennis | Mo Farah, Chris Froome, Lewis Hamilton, Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2018 | Roger Federer (Switzerland) | Tennis | Mo Farah, Chris Froome, Lewis Hamilton, Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2017 | Usain Bolt (Jamaica) | Athletics | Stephen Curry, Mo Farah, LeBron James, Andy Murray, Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2016 | Novak Djokovic (Serbia) | Tennis | Usain Bolt, Stephen Curry, Lewis Hamilton, Lionel Messi, Jordan Spieth |
| 2015 | Novak Djokovic (Serbia) | Tennis | Lewis Hamilton, Renaud Lavillenie, Marc Márquez, Rory McIlroy, Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2014 | Sebastian Vettel (Germany) | Formula 1 | Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, LeBron James, Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2013 | Usain Bolt (Jamaica) | Athletics | Bradley Wiggins, Lionel Messi, Michael Phelps, Mo Farah, Sebastian Vettel |
| 2012 | Novak Djokovic (Serbia) | Tennis | Usain Bolt, Cadel Evans, Lionel Messi, Dirk Nowitzki, Sebastian Vettel |
| 2011 | Rafael Nadal (Spain) | Tennis | Kobe Bryant, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Manny Pacquiao, Sebastian Vettel |
| 2010 | Usain Bolt (Jamaica) | Athletics | Kenenisa Bekele, Alberto Contador, Roger Federer, Lionel Messi, Valentino Rossi |
| 2009 | Usain Bolt (Jamaica) | Athletics | Lewis Hamilton, Rafael Nadal, Michael Phelps, Cristiano Ronaldo, Valentino Rossi |
| 2008 | Roger Federer (Switzerland) | Tennis | Tyson Gay, Kaká, Michael Phelps, Kimi Räikkönen, Tiger Woods |
| 2007 | Novak Djokovic (Switzerland) | Tennis | Fernando Alonso, Fabio Cannavaro, Asafa Powell, Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods |
| 2006 | Roger Federer (Switzerland) | Tennis | Fernando Alonso, Lance Armstrong, Ronaldinho, Valentino Rossi, Tiger Woods |
| 2005 | Roger Federer (Switzerland) | Tennis | Lance Armstrong, Hicham El Guerrouj, Michael Phelps, Valentino Rossi, Michael Schumacher |
| 2004 | Michael Schumacher (Germany) | Formula One | Lance Armstrong, Roger Federer, Michael Phelps, Valentino Rossi, Jonny Wilkinson |
| 2003 | Lance Armstrong (USA) | Cycling | Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Ronaldo, Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods |
| 2002 | Michael Schumacher (Germany) | Formula One | Lance Armstrong, Maurice Greene, Ian Thorpe, Tiger Woods |
| 2001 | Tiger Woods (USA) | Golf | Steve Redgrave, Michael Schumacher, Ian Thorpe, Pieter van den Hoogenband |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods (USA) | Golf | Andre Agassi, Maurice Greene |
