Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 10:34 / Updated Tuesday, April 21, 2026 10:34
This year's edition of the Laureus Awards, presented for the first time in history by two athletes, Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu, took place on Monday evening at the “Cibelles Palace” in Madrid.
During the ceremony, Nadia Comăneci received the Laureus award for her entire career. In 2026, it will be 50 years since the Romanian's great performance at the Olympic Games in Montreal.
Many sports personalities were present at the gala, such as Iker Casillas, Luis Figo, Borris Becker, Raphael Varane, Leonardo Bonucci, Thiago Alcantara or Ruud Gullit.
Carlos Alcaraz, named sportsman of the year at the Laureus Gala
Number 2 in the ATP circuit, Carlos Alcaraz, was named the athlete of the year, after winning two Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, at Roland Garros and the US Open. The Iberian thus defeated his rival, Jannik Sinner, the current world leader, who in the previous year won the other two Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Other nominees for this award were 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, athlete Mondo Duplantis, motoGP rider Marc Marquez and cyclist Tadej Pogacar.
Aryna Sabalenka, named sportswoman of the year at the Laureus Gala
Aryna Sabalenka, the leader of the WTA circuit, was named sportswoman of the year, in which category she outranked soccer player Aitana Bonmati, athletes Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Faith Kipyegon and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, as well as swimmer Katie Ledecky.
The tennis player from Belarus won a Grand Slam trophy the previous year at the US Open.
PSG, named the best team at the Laureus Gala
After a fantastic season under Luis Enrique, PSG have been named the best team at the Laureus Gala. The Parisians won the Champions League for the first time, which was joined by the title in Ligue 1, the French Cup, the French Super Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.
Other nominees for the award were the England women's national football team, the European Ryder Cup team, the Indian women's cricket team, the McLaren Formula One team and the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.
Lamine Yamal, named young athlete of the year at the Laureus Gala
At only 18 years old, Lamine Yamal was named the young athlete of the year at the Laureus Gala, after already impressing in the Barcelona shirt, but also in the Spanish national team, with which he won the European Championship in 2024.
Lando Norris, named revelation of the year in sports at the Laureus Gala
After becoming the world champion in Formula 1, Lando Norris, the driver of McLaren, was named the revelation of the year in sport at the Laureus Gala.
The Brit competed for the award with world darts champion Luke Litter, swimmer Zidi Yu, basketball player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, tennis player Joao Fonseca and PSG footballer Desire Doue.
Toni Kroos, designated inspiration from sports at the Laureus Gala
With an impressive career in football, Toni Kroos has been named inspiration in sport at the Laureus Gala. Retired in 2024, Toni Kroos is one of the most successful footballers in history, being world champion with the German national team in 2014 and winner of 6 Champions Leagues, 5 with Real Madrid and one with Bayern Munich.
Rory McIlroy, “comeback of the year” at the Laureus Gala
Golfer Rory McIlory received the Comeback of the Year award, competing against tennis player Amanda Anisimova, cyclist Egan Bernal, athlete Yulimar Rojas, footballer Leah Williamson and cyclist Simon Yates.
The swimmer Gabriel Araujo was named the personality of the year in Paralympic sport, an award that was also nominated for the swimmers Simone Barlaam and David Kratochvil, the hockey player Kelsey DiClaudiu and the athletes Catherine Debrunner and Kiara Rodriguez.
For her successful performances in snowboarding, Chloe Kim received the Extreme Sports Personality of the Year award, where she competed with Yago Dora (surfing), Kilian Jornet (ultra running), Rayssa Leal (skateboarding), Molly Picklum (surfing) and Tom Pidcock (cycling).
The Sport for good award was received by Futbol Mas football club, a category in which another football club competed, ASD Grupoo Sportivo Valanga, Kings County Tennis League tennis club, Mindleaps dance club, Rugby for Good rugby club and Transformacion Social Traso martial arts club.
