Bonmati and Djokovic shine at Laureus Awards Ceremony

MADRID: Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielder Aitana Bonmati and Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic took center stage at the recent Laureus awards ceremony, claiming top honors in their respective categories.

Bonmati, hailed as the Sportswoman of the Year, has etched her name in women’s football history with a slew of prestigious accolades including FIFA’s The Best, Ballon d’Or, and World Cup MVP titles. Her remarkable achievements culminated in the Spanish women’s football team being crowned Team of the Year, marking a significant milestone as the first female squad to clinch the award.

Meanwhile, Djokovic, a dominant force in men’s tennis, clinched the top men’s honor for the fifth time, tying Margaret Court’s record with 24 Grand Slam titles. His stellar performance in 2023 saw him triumph at the Australian and French Opens, in addition to reaching the finals of all four major tournaments.

Adding to the excitement of the ceremony was the recognition of England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who was named Breakthrough Player of the Year for his outstanding debut season with Real Madrid in LaLiga, becoming the first footballer to receive this prestigious accolade.(Reuters)

List of winners:
World Sportswoman of the Year: Aitana Bonmati
World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic
World Team of the Year: Spain Women’s Football Team
World Breakthrough of the Year: Jude Bellingham
World Comeback of the Year: Simone Biles
World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Diede de Groot
World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Arisa Trew
Laureus Sport for Good: Rafa Nadal Foundation