On April 21, Madrid will host the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, the most prestigious honors in global sports. This special edition marks the 25th anniversary of the Laureus Awards, which began in 2000 in Monaco, and promises to be a unique celebration of the growth of this global sports movement.

In addition to recognizing the best athletes in the world, the Laureus Awards also stand out for their social impact through the Laureus Sport for Good initiative, which operates in over 40 countries. This year, the ceremony will not only honor the most outstanding athletes but also showcase the social legacy of the awards, benefiting young people in Madrid and its surrounding region.

MADRID, A CITY FOR SPORTS

Madrid, which also hosted the Laureus Awards in 2024, is a vibrant city with a rich sports tradition. Home to five La Liga clubs, the Madrid Open tennis tournament, and the finale of the Vuelta a España, the Spanish capital continues to establish itself as a key destination for international sporting events. This year, it will also host the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Spain, and starting in 2026, it will be the venue for the Formula 1 Grand Prix on a new urban circuit.

This year’s edition of the Laureus Awards will not only celebrate the present of sports but also honor its history and inspire the future. Big names in sports and celebrities will gather in Madrid for this unique gala, where the iconic Laureus statuette, voted on by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, will be awarded.

THE NOMINEES FOR THE 2025 LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS

This year’s nominees represent the best in global sports. Below is the full list of nominees in the main categories:

• World Sportsman of the Year:
  Carlos Alcaraz (Tennis), Mondo Duplantis (Athletics), Léon Marchand (Swimming), Tadej Pogačar (Cycling), Max Verstappen (Formula 1).

• World Sportswoman of the Year:
  Simone Biles (Gymnastics), Aitana Bonmatí (Football), Sifan Hassan (Athletics), Faith Kipyegon (Athletics), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Athletics), Aryna Sabalenka (Tennis).

• World Team of the Year:
  FC Barcelona Women’s Team (Football), Boston Celtics (Basketball), McLaren Formula 1 Team (Formula 1), Real Madrid Men’s Team (Football), Spain Men’s Football Team, USA Men’s Basketball Team.

• Breakthrough of the Year:
  Julien Alfred (Athletics), Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Football), Summer McIntosh (Swimming), Letsile Tebogo (Athletics), Victor Wembanyama (Basketball), Lamine Yamal (Football).

• Comeback of the Year:
  Rebeca Andrade (Gymnastics), Caeleb Dressel (Swimming), Lara Gut-Behrami (Alpine Skiing), Marc Márquez (Motorcycling), Rishabh Pant (Cricket), Ariarne Titmus (Swimming).

• Action Sportsperson of the Year:
  Yuto Horigome (Skateboarding), Chloe Kim (Snowboarding), Caroline Marks (Surfing), Aleksandra Miroslaw (Climbing), Tom Pidcock (Mountain Biking), Arisa Trew (Skateboarding).

• Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability:
  Catherine Debrunner (Athletics), Teresa Perales (Swimming), Tokito Oda (Wheelchair Tennis), Matt Stutzman (Archery), Jiang Yuyan (Swimming), Qu Zimo (Wheelchair Badminton).

A SOCIAL LEGACY BEYOND THE AWARDS

Beyond the ceremony, the 2025 Laureus Awards will also stand out for their social impact. In collaboration with the Community and City of Madrid, initiatives will be presented to benefit young people in the region, continuing the social legacy of the 2024 awards. This approach reinforces Laureus’ commitment to using sports as a ability for social change.