Messi Beats Mbappe, Steph Curry, Others To Win Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award

• Lionel Messi has won the 2023 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
• This is the second time the Argentine maestro has won the prestigious award
• Messi is the only footballer to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award

Lionel Messi has won the 2023 Laureus Award for best male athlete on Monday after leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup.

Messi, 35, scored seven goals in Qatar as Argentina won their third World Cup.

According to Marca, the Paris Saint-Germain star was crowned in a ceremony in Paris ahead of World Cup rival, Kylian Mbappe, NBA star Stephen Curry, legendary tennis player Rafael Nadal, Formula 1 star Max Verstappen and Pole Vaulter Mondo Duplantis.

It is Messi's second Laureus award, which is regarded as the Oscar of the sports world, following the one he shared with British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton in 2020.

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After receiving the award, Messi said:

"I achieved my dream and the whole country's and it was the best thing that has happened to me and to everybody as a country after waiting for so long. So I would like to share this Award with all of Argentina."

The Rosario native who will succeed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands was present at the ceremony in Paris' Pavillon Vendome with his wife Antonella.

Other Laureus Award winners

Meanwhile, Argentina's national team won the Laureus Award for the best team, ahead of Real Madrid and the Golden State Warriors, Sport reported.

The Albiceleste won their third world title in Qatar after defeating France on penalties on 18 December 2022.

Nigerian track star Tobi Amusan lost her category, Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award to 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz.

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Eileen Gu won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year category, while Catherine Debrunner walked home with the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award.

Christian Eriksen won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award following his return to the highest level of football, while Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year was given to Jamaican track and field athlete Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Messi responds to PSG suspension

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Lionel Messi issuing an apology to his club teammates after he was suspended for missing training.

The Parisiens punished the 2022 World Cup winner after travelling to Saudi Arabia on a sponsored visit.

The Argentina phenom has resorted to social media to respond to the backlash by apologising to the club and his teammates.