The 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards will mark the 25th edition of the prestigious event, celebrating the rich history of sports and honoring some of the biggest names in the athletic world. Known as the “Oscars of Sports,” the Laureus Awards are voted on by the 69 legendary members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The iconic Laureus statuette is a symbol of excellence, representing the pinnacle of achievement in sports.
Sportsman of the Year: A Star-Studded Lineup
The Sportsman of the Year category features an impressive list of nominees, including reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen and tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz. Athletics stars Mondo Duplantis and Tadej Pogačar are also in contention, alongside swimming phenom Léon Marchand. Each nominee has had a remarkable year, showcasing their dominance in their respective sports.
Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles Leads the Pack
Gymnastics icon Simone Biles headlines the Sportswoman of the Year nominees, joined by Spanish football star Aitana Bonmatí and tennis powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka. Other notable nominees include athletics stars Sifan Hassan, Faith Kipyegon, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, all of whom have delivered exceptional performances in 2024.
Team of the Year: Spain Dominates the Nominations
Spain’s sporting prowess is on full display in the Team of the Year category. The FC Barcelona Women’s team, Real Madrid, and the Spanish men’s football team are all nominated. They are joined by the McLaren Formula 1 team, the USA Men’s Basketball team, and the Boston Celtics, making this one of the most competitive categories of the night.
Breakthrough of the Year: Rising Stars Shine
The Breakthrough of the Year award highlights emerging talent, with Bayer Leverkusen earning a nomination after their historic unbeaten Bundesliga season. Spanish football prodigy Lamine Yamal and Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh are also among the nominees, showcasing the future of global sports.
Comeback of the Year: Triumph Over Adversity
Indian cricket fans have a reason to celebrate as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant headlines the Comeback of the Year category. Pant made a remarkable return to international cricket after recovering from a life-threatening car accident in 2022. Other nominees include gymnast Rebeca Andrade, swimmer Caeleb Dressel, and motorcyclist Marc Márquez, all of whom have overcome significant challenges to return to the top of their games.
A Night to Remember
The 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards promise to be a celebration of athletic excellence, resilience, and the transformative power of sports. As the world’s greatest athletes gather to honor their peers, the event will undoubtedly inspire future generations to dream big and achieve greatness.
Full List of Nominees:
Sportsman of the Year:
- Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) – Tennis
- Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) – Athletics
- Léon Marchand (France) – Swimming
- Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) – Cycling
- Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Motor Racing
Sportswoman of the Year:
- Simone Biles (USA) – Gymnastics
- Aitana Bonmatí (Spain) – Football
- Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) – Athletics
- Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) – Athletics
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – Athletics
- Aryna Sabalenka – Tennis
Team of the Year:
- FC Barcelona Women’s Team (Spain) – Football
- Boston Celtics (USA) – Basketball
- McLaren Formula One Team (UK) – Formula One
- Real Madrid (Spain) – Football
- Spain Men’s Football Team
- USA Basketball Men’s National Team
Breakthrough of the Year:
- Julien Alfred (St Lucia) – Athletics
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Germany) – Football
- Summer McIntosh (Canada) – Swimming
- Letsile Tebogo (Botswana) – Athletics
- Victor Wembanyama (France) – Basketball
- Lamine Yamal (Spain) – Football
Comeback of the Year:
- Rebeca Andrade (Brazil) – Gymnastics
- Caeleb Dressel (USA) – Swimming
- Lara Gut-Behrami (Switzerland) – Alpine Skiing
- Marc Márquez (Spain) – Motor Cycling
- Rishabh Pant (India) – Cricket
- Ariarne Titmus (Australia) – Swimming
Action Sportsperson of the Year:
- Yuto Horigome (Japan) – Skateboarding
- Chloe Kim (USA) – Snowboarding
- Caroline Marks (USA) – Surfing
- Aleksandra Miroslaw (Poland) – Speed Climbing
- Tom Pidcock (UK) – Mountain Biking
- Arisa Trew (Australia) – Skateboarding
Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability:
- Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) – Athletics
- Teresa Perales (Spain) – Swimming
- Tokito Oda (Japan) – Wheelchair Tennis
- Matt Stutzman (USA) – Archery
- Jiang Yuyan (China) – Swimming
- Qu Zimo (China) – Wheelchair Badminton
Laureus Sport for Good Award:
- Kick4Life (Lesotho) – Football x Gender Equity
- Figure Skating Harlem (USA) – Figure Skating x Racial Equity
- Kind Surf (Spain) – Surfing x Inclusion
- Liberi Nantes (Italy) – Football x Social Inclusion
- Paris Basket 18 (France) – Basketball x Gender Equity
- Street League (UK) – Multi-sport x Employability
