MADRID.- The Spanish Carlos Alcarazwhich ended the year 2025 as number one in the world ranking, was one of the winners this Monday at the awards gala Laureus of sporttogether with the young footballer Lamine Yamal or the tennis player Aryna Sabalenka.
Alcaraz won the award for best male athlete after a season in which he won Roland Garros and the Australian Openfinishing in first place in the classification ATP.
“Icons from the highest levels have won this award, they have put their names on the exclusive list of those who have won it and the truth is that seeing my name next to them means a lot,” said Alcaraz.
The Spaniard, current number two in the world, had already won the Laureus award for Best New Athlete in 2023.
The award for Best Athlete went to fellow tennis player Sabalenka, who once again finished 2025 as number one in the world for the second consecutive year.
The Belarusian, who is preparing to compete in the Madrid Masters 1000reached three Grand Slam finals, winning the Australian Open.
Lamine Yamal repeats
The young forward of the BarcelonaYamal, who last year had won the award for best revelation athlete, repeated in a newly created category.
Barça’s “10” won the award for Best Young Athlete of the year, after a campaign in which he was decisive for his team to win the League 2025the Spanish Super Cup and the King’s Cup.
“I am proud that the academy (Laureus) recognizes me with an award and that I am the first to win it,” Lamine said at a press conference after winning in that new category.
The Barça striker thus becomes the only footballer, along with Lionel Messiwhich has won two Laureus awards.
Another ball star, the former soccer player Toni Krooswon the Laureus Inspiration Award.
The British pilot Formula 1, Lando Norrissucceeded this Monday Lamine in the Laureus awards as Best New Athlete.
Norris became champion of the Formula 1 world championship last year.
PSG, best team
The Laureus award for Best Team went to Paris Saint-Germain and his spectacular last season in which he won six titles, including the Champions League and the European Super Cup.
PSG won all the domestic championships before overwhelming 5-0 Inter Milan in the Champions League final to lift the first ‘Orejona’ in its history.
The Brazilian swimmer Gabriel Araújo won the award for Best Paralympic Athlete, after a 2025 in which he won three gold medals in the Adapted Swimming World Cup.
“I want to thank God and my family for everything we are building. Being here is a dream. Thanks to my coach for all the support. I hope this award is the first of many and that we continue making history,” said Araújo upon receiving the award.
Other winners at the gala held in Madrid were the American snowboarder Chloe Kim in the category of Best Extreme Athlete or Golfer Rory Mcllroy in the Best Comeback section.
The distinction for an entire career went to the Romanian gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci and the foundation Soccer Moreborn in Chiliwas rewarded with the Sports for Good award for her work promoting sports as a tool for social transformation.
