New Delhi: Top tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka received the top honours at the prestigious Laureus Awards at a gala ceremony in Madrid.
Alcaraz was adjudged the best sportsman and Sabalenka the top sportswoman of 2025 after glittering campaigns that saw them finish at the top of the ATP and WTA rankings respectively.
Spaniard Alcaraz won two Grand Slams at the French Open and Wimbledon to reclain the year-end top spot while Belarus’ Sabalenka claimed the US Open and was runner-up in the Australian and French Open to be the mst consistent player among women.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka joined the select club of fellow tennis stars Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin and Naomi Osaka, who have been named sportswoman of the year earlier.
Last year the top-honour recipients were gymnast Simone Biles and pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis and this year was the first time the ceremony was hosted by two athletes — Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu – both former winners.
Yamal honoured
Paris Saint-German took the team of the year award for winning the treble of Champions League, French league and Cup shile FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal was named the young sportsperson of the year.
Golfer Rory McIlroy bagged the comeback of the year award after taking 11 years to complete the career Grand Slam with a playoff victory at the 2025 Masters, then defending the title in 2026.
Formula One driver Lando Norris was handed the breakthrough of the year award.
Launched in 2000, the Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are chosen by the global media, while 69 members pick the winners of each category.
Winners:
World Sportsman of the Year Award: Carlos Alcaraz
World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Aryna Sabalenka
World Team of the Year Award: Paris St Germain
World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lando Norris
World Comeback of the Year Award: Rory McIlroy
World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award: Gabriel
Araujo
World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Chloe Kim
World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal
Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award: Toni Kroos
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Nadia Comaneci
Laureus Sport for Good Award: Futbol Mas