Messi, Fraser-Pryce Win Top Laureus Global Sports Awards

In this file photo taken on November 22, 2022, Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal which was disallowed for an offside during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on November 22, 2022, Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal which was disallowed for an offside during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha. (AFP)
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Messi, Fraser-Pryce Win Top Laureus Global Sports Awards

In this file photo taken on November 22, 2022, Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal which was disallowed for an offside during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on November 22, 2022, Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal which was disallowed for an offside during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha. (AFP)

Lionel Messi has won a top accolade as world Sportsman of the Year and picked up another award as a member of the team of the year following Argentina’s World Cup football victory in 2022.

Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finally broke through to win the Sportswoman of the Year award on her sixth nomination.

Fraser-Pryce’s 2022 exploits included winning the 100-meter gold at the World Athletics Championships for the fifth time.

The Laureus Sports Awards honoring eight winners were held live in Paris on Monday night for the first time since 2020.

It was Messi’s second individual title after sharing that honor with Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton in 2020.

Fraser-Pryce, who has won three Olympic and 10 world championship gold medals, called her award “one of the greatest honors of my career.”

“When athletes have the spotlight, it’s important the example we set is the best it can be . . . we have a responsibility to influence the next generation in a positive way,” she said.

Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz’s victory at the 2022 US Open and his rise to the No. 1 ranking saw him take the Breakthrough of the Year award. Alcaraz, who celebrated his 20th birthday last week, won Sunday's final of the Madrid Open.

Christian Eriksen was the recipient of the Comeback of the Year award after recovering from a cardiac arrest to return to Premier League football with Brentford and then Manchester United.

The world Action Sportsperson of the Year went to American-born Chinese freestyler skier Eileen Gu, who was 18 during the Winter Olympics in Beijing. She became the first athlete to win three medals in freestyle skiing at a single Olympics — gold in both the halfpipe and big air events, and silver in slopestyle.

Nominees for the Laureus awards are determined by international media and the winners are voted on by the 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy – athletes from the past 50 years.



Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr Draws at Persepolis in Last AFC Champions League Group Game 

Serdar Durban of Persepolis (L) and Mohammed Al Fatil of Al-Nassr (C) in action during the AFC Champions League match Persepolis FC against Al-Nassr FC, in Tehran, Iran, 17 February 2025. (EPA) 
Serdar Durban of Persepolis (L) and Mohammed Al Fatil of Al-Nassr (C) in action during the AFC Champions League match Persepolis FC against Al-Nassr FC, in Tehran, Iran, 17 February 2025. (EPA) 
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Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr Draws at Persepolis in Last AFC Champions League Group Game 

Serdar Durban of Persepolis (L) and Mohammed Al Fatil of Al-Nassr (C) in action during the AFC Champions League match Persepolis FC against Al-Nassr FC, in Tehran, Iran, 17 February 2025. (EPA) 
Serdar Durban of Persepolis (L) and Mohammed Al Fatil of Al-Nassr (C) in action during the AFC Champions League match Persepolis FC against Al-Nassr FC, in Tehran, Iran, 17 February 2025. (EPA) 

After leaving Cristiano Ronaldo at home, Al-Nassr drew 0-0 away against Iranian club Persepolis on Monday in the last round of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage.

The Saudi Arabian team had already secured a place in the round of 16 of the continental competition and coach Stefano Pioli took a weakened team to Tehran.

Al-Nassr finished third in the West group behind fellow Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. The top eight advance from each of the two 12-team groups, divided into eastern and western geographic zones.

Al-Ahli beat Al-Gharafa of Qatar 4-2 with former Premier League players Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino all scoring, along with Brazilian winger Galeno.

Also, Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan defeated Qatar’s Al-Sadd 2-1 to move into the second round.