THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Laureus World Sports Awards 2020 honours the best of the best in world sports

Laureus Academy members Boris Becker (l) and Steve Waugh (r) present the Laureus Best Sporting Moment: "Carried on the shoulders of a nation" to India's Men Cricket Team accepted by Sachin Tendulkar during the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards at Verti Music Hall on February 17, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Laureus

The Laureus World Sports Awards 2020 hosted by actor Hugh Grant took place last night in Berlin, Germany as the best of the best were honoured in front of a glittering international audience.

F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Argentine football legend Lionel Messi were declared joint winners of the prestigious Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award, as both sporting icons received the same number of votes. Therefore, the Laureus World Sports Academy decided to hand over the award to two sportsmen for the very first time in the 20-year history of the Laureus Awards.

American gymnast Simone Biles received the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, while the South African Men’s Rugby Team claimed the award in the Laureus World Team of the Year category.

The Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award went to German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki who retired from the game last year after a memorable career in the NBA. Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar won the Laureus Sporting Moment Award (2000-2020) public fan vote.

The full list of winners is:

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Lewis Hamilton and Lionel Messi
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Simone Biles
Laureus World Team of the Year: South Africa Men’s Rugby Team
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Egan Bernal
Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Sophia Flörsch
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Oksana Masters
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Chloe Kim
Laureus Best Sporting Moment: ‘Carried on the shoulders of a nation’ – Sachin Tendulkar
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Dirk Nowitzki
Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award: Spanish Basketball Federation
Laureus Sport for Good Award: South Bronx United

(Laureus)