Djokovic, Bonmati win Laureus Awards

Spain's World Cup winning midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named the Sportswoman of the Year, while Serbia's Novak Djokovic captured the top men's honor at the Laureus awards ceremony on Monday.

Bonmati, who has cemented her place at the top of women's football by winning FIFA's The Best, Ballon d'Or and World Cup MVP awards among other accomplishments, made her way on to the stage for a second time on Monday as the Spanish women's football team were named Team of the Year, the first female squad to win the award.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady handed Djokovic his fifth Laureus award after the top ranked tennis player enjoyed a remarkable 2023. The Serb matched Australian Margaret Court's all time record haul of 24 Grand Slam titles after winning the U.S. Open last September, which was the second of his three Grand Slam titles that year, including the Australian and French Opens. He was the runner-up at Wimbledon, as he reached the final of all four Grand Slams.  

England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has taken LaLiga by storm in his first season with Real Madrid, was named the Breakthrough Player of the Year, the first footballer to win this award.

American gymnast Simone Biles was given the Laureus World Comeback of the Year after winning four gold medals at the World Championship, including a record sixth all-around title after her two-year absence following the Tokyo Olympics.

Skateboarder Arisa Trew was the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year, while Diede de Groot was the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability after recording her third straight calendar Grand Slam.

The Rafa Nadal Foundation was named as the winner of the Laureus Sport for Good Award for its work in helping vulnerable young people in Spain and India.

The Laureus World Sports Awards nominees are selected by the global media, while the winners are determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The awards have been presented annually since 2000.

List of winners:

World Sportswoman of the Year: Aitana Bonmati

World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic

World Team of the Year: Spain Women's Football Team

World Breakthrough of the Year: Jude Bellingham

World Comeback of the Year: Simone Biles

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Diede de Groot

World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Arisa Trew

Laureus Sport for Good: Rafa Nadal Foundation

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: File photo of the Laureus award. /CFP)