Jude Bellingham, the England midfielder, joined Novak Djokovic and Aitana Bonmati as significant winners at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, winning the World Breakthrough of the Year award.
Bellingham became the first footballer to receive the award the next day, scoring Real Madrid’s late winner in a 3-2 El Clasico triumph over Barcelona.
The 20-year-old has had a great first season at Real Madrid after signing from Borussia Dortmund last summer, netting 21 goals across all competitions.
Djokovic was voted Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time after winning the Australian, French, and US Opens, bringing his total to 24 grand slam men’s singles victories.
“I am incredibly honoured to have won my fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award,” Djokovic said in a statement.
“I recall winning it for the first time in 2012, at the age of 24. I’m really delighted to be here 12 years later, reflecting on an exciting and successful year for me and my supporters.
“It was fantastic to come to Australia last January and win my tenth title. It is a competition that holds a special place in my heart and has prepared me for a fantastic year.
“I could not have achieved so much success without an incredible team behind me, and inspirational rivals who have always pushed me to be the best version of myself.”
Bonmati was on stage twice to collect two awards: she was the first footballer to win the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year trophy, and she also represented Spain in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
She stated, “It is humbling to see the list of previous winners of this award.”
“From Serena Williams to Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn, Naomi Osaka, and last year’s winner Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, they are all fantastic athletes who have not only excelled in their respective sports, but have also served as incredible role models for future generations of young women and girls.
“As the first women’s team to win the Laureus, we are proud of our status as pioneers and as a group we are as committed to equality and representation as we are to what we do on the football pitch.”
Biles, an American gymnast and three-time Sportswoman of the Year winner, received the World Comeback of the Year award.
Biles won four gold medals at the World Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, her first international competition since withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health difficulties and taking an almost two-year hiatus from the sport she dominated.
Other award winners included Rafael Nadal (Sport for Good), Diede de Groot (World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability), and Arisa Trew (World Action Sportsperson of the Year).