Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic among nominees for 2024 Laureus Sportsman of the Year award

Nominees for the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Spain, this April include renowned athletes such as Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic, Simone Biles, and Mikaela Shiffrin. 

The list encompasses various Olympic champions, medallists, and superstars, unveiled on Monday (26 February) across eight award categories.

The nominees in the primary award classifications were chosen by a global media panel comprising over 1,300 members associated with Laureus. Additionally, the International Paralympic Committee played a role in determining the final nominees for the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award.

Among the notable contenders, Messi, the 2023 World Sportsman of the Year, finds himself once again in the running for the prestigious award. Djokovic, recognized for his three tennis Grand Slam titles in 2023, joins Messi in contention. The shortlist also features pole vault world record holder Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis and Noah Lyles, triple gold medallist at the World Athletics Championships.

Shiffrin, who set the Alpine Skiing World Cup record for race victories in 2023, competes for the World Sportswoman of the Year title alongside track athletes Shericka Jackson, Faith Kipyegon, and Sha'Carri Richardson. Football World Cup winner Aitana Bonmatí and French Open tennis champion Iga Swiatek are also part of this prestigious shortlist.

Biles leads the nominations in the World Comeback of the Year category, recognized for her remarkable return to artistic gymnastics with four World Championships gold medals after a two-year hiatus.

In the World Breakthrough of the Year category, Chinese swimmer Qin Haiyang and British runner Josh Kerr are among the nominated Olympians. The World Action Sportsperson of the Year category features prominent Olympic stars, including Rayssa Leal and Bethany Shriever, showcasing their exceptional contributions to the world of sports.

Full list of nominees for 2024 Laureus Awards

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year 2024 nominees: Novak Djokovic (Serbia, tennis); Mondo Duplantis (Sweden, athletics); Erling Haaland (Norway, football); Noah Lyles (USA, athletics); Lionel Messi (Argentina, football); Max Verstappen (Netherlands, motor racing)

Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2024 nominees: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, football); Shericka Jackson (Jamaica, athletics); Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, athletics); Sha'Carri Richardson (USA, athletics); Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, Alpine skiing); Iga Swiatek (Poland, tennis)

Laureus World Team of the Year 2024 nominees: Europe Ryder Cup team (golf); Germany men's basketball team; Manchester City FC (Great Britain, football); Red Bull Racing Formula One team (Austria); South Africa Springboks (rugby union); Spain women's football team

Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year 2024 nominees: Jude Bellingham (Great Britain, football); Linda Caicedo (Colombia, football); Coco Gauff (USA, tennis); Qin Haiyang (People's Republic of China, swimming); Josh Kerr (Great Britain, athletics); Salma Paralluelo (Spain, football)

Laureus World Comeback of the Year 2024 nominees: Simone Biles (USA, artistic gymnastics); Sébastien Haller (Côte d'Ivoire, football); Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Great Britain, athletics); Siya Kolisi (South Africa, rugby union); Jamal Murray (Canada, basketball); Marketa Vondrousova (Czechia, tennis)

Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability 2024 nominees: Simone Barlaam (Italy, para-swimming); Danylo Chufarov (Ukraine, para-swimming); Diede de Groot (Netherlands, wheelchair tennis); Luca Ekler (Hungary, para-athletics); Nicole Murray (New Zealand, para-cycling); Markus Rehm (Germany, para-athletics)

Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year 2024 nominees: Rayssa Leal (Brazil, skateboarding); Caroline Marks (USA, surfing); Kirsten Neuschäfer (South Africa, sailing); Bethany Shriever (Great Britain, BMX racing); Filipe Toledo (Brazil, surfing); Arisa Trew (Australia, skateboarding)

Laureus Sport for Good Award 2024 nominees: Bola Pra Frente (Brazil), Dancing Grounds (USA), Fundación Rafa Nadal (Spain); ISF Cambodia; Justice Desk Africa (South Africa); Obiettivo Napoli (Italy)