Alcaraz and Sabalenka Named Laureus World Sports Athletes of the Year

Madrid, April 20, 2026 – Tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were named the Laureus World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards held in Madrid.

The awards ceremony, held on April 20, 2026, honored top athletes across various disciplines for their outstanding performances in 2025. Alcaraz received the Sportsman of the Year award after winning the French Open, US Open, and Australian Open titles in 2025. Sabalenka was recognized as Sportswoman of the Year following her second consecutive US Open victory and her status as the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player.

Paris Saint-Germain was awarded the Laureus World Team of the Year after securing their first UEFA Champions League title in 2025. The club’s victory marked a significant milestone in their history and contributed to their recognition as the best team in global sport.

Other notable winners included Lando Norris, who received the World Breakthrough of the Year award for his performances in Formula One; Rory McIlroy, honored with the Comeback of the Year award after successfully defending his Masters title; and Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old Barcelona and Spain star, who won the Young Sportsperson of the Year prize.

Toni Kroos was awarded the World Sporting Inspiration Award in recognition of his decorated career with Real Madrid, while retired gymnast Nadia Comăneci received the Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring her legendary contributions to sport, including her perfect 10 score at the 1976 Olympic Games.

In the action sports category, American snowboarder Chloe Kim won the World Action Sportsperson Award. Brazilian Paralympic swimmer Gabriel Araújo was named the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Discipline, acknowledging his three-time world championship success in Para Swimming.

The ceremony was hosted by former Laureus winners Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu, marking the first time in the event’s history that two athletes served as hosts. The awards were presented in front of a global audience, with attendees including fellow athletes, members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, and celebrities from the world of sport and entertainment.

The event took place in Madrid, a city that also hosted the start of the Madrid Open tennis tournament on the same day. Madrid is set to host a Formula One race in September 2026, marking the first time the city has held a Grand Prix since 1981.