“Messi and Fraser-Pryce Win Laureus World Sports Awards 2022”

Messi led the national team to its first World Cup title since 1986, Fraser-Pryce earned a sports Oscar for gold in the 100m at the World Championships in Eugene. The title was her fifth in the individual race at the world championship.

The captain of the reigning world champions scored seven goals at the December tournament in Qatar and won the Ballon d’Or earlier in the year. At the same time, the Argentine national team received the award for the best team, and Messi is thus the first athlete in history to receive both an individual and a team award in the same year.

“This is an exceptional award. Especially since this year it is being awarded in Paris, which warmly welcomed my family in 2021,” Messi was quoted by the British media. “I want to thank all my teammates, not only from the national team, but also from PSG. I didn’t achieve any of this alone and I’m grateful to be able to share it with them.” added the 35-year-old forward.

Fraser-Pryce is the first female athlete ever to win five individual world titles. The first one came back in 2009, and the 36-year-old Jamaican currently has the most sprint titles in history.

“I was thrilled to be nominated alongside some very inspiring sportswomen. To receive this award, which is judged by the best sportsmen and women of all time, is amazing. It was done after the sixth nomination and it is one of the greatest honors of my career.” Fraser-Pryce said.

The award for the greatest progress was given to the Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who won the US Open at the age of nineteen and became the youngest number one in the ATP rankings in history. Danish football player Christian Eriksen received the prize for his comeback – he returned to the pitches after he had a cardiac arrest at the European Championship 2020 and had to be resuscitated for several minutes right on the pitch.