A packed audience at the iconic Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid eagerly awaited history, as Novak Djokovic took the stage to accept his fifth Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award. NFL legend Tom Brady presented the trophy to the Serbian, with the crowd erupting in applause. Djokovic overcome other modern sports legends like Max Verstappen and Lionel Messi to claim the award, thanks to his outstanding individual achievements in the past year.
In 2023, Djokovic truly represented men’s tennis as a Serbian superstar, claiming victories in three out of the four Grand Slam titles. Although the 37-year-old came close to securing the Calendar Slam, he ultimately lost the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz. Nevertheless, Djokovic’s three Major titles, in addition to his ATP Finals victory and multiple Masters titles, solidified him as the world’s best sportsman in 2024. Djokovic was the heavy favorite going into the event, even though both Messi and Verstappen had record-breaking years themselves.
Max Verstappen’s 2023 Formula 1 season made him a strong contender for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award. The Dutchman dominated the competition with Red Bull’s RB19 challenger, winning 19 out of 22 Grand Prix to claim his third driver’s championship. Still, this was not enough for Verstappen to outshine Djokovic for the prestigious accolade. The 26-year-old had won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award previously, in 2021, when he secured his first Formula 1 driver’s championship.
Lionel Messi was another contender for the award, having previously won in 2023 due to his historic FIFA World Cup win in Qatar, where he guided Argentina to victory and was named Player of the Tournament. However, his performance in 2023 fell short of his previous accomplishments, making him unable to defend his title this year.
In comparing the achievements of Djokovic, Verstappen, and Messi, Djokovic undoubtedly deserved the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award. As the face of tennis in 2023, the 36-year-old Serbian continued to fiercely compete against his rivals, showing no signs of slowing down. Despite facing a formidable younger generation of tennis players, Djokovic consistently pushed his limits and set new records. With his immense dedication and drive for success, one would not be surprised if Djokovic soon surpasses Roger Federer’s current record of five Laureus Sportsman of the Year Awards.
