Title: Erling Haaland and Manchester City Dominate Laureus Awards Nominations
Erling Haaland, the prolific Norwegian striker for Manchester City, heads the nominations at this year’s Laureus Awards. His exceptional goal-scoring form continued unabated last season as he netted an impressive 52 goals across all competitions, helping Manchester City secure a historic treble. Haaland was also named the Premier League Player of the Year for his outstanding performances.
Haaland’s nomination for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award places him alongside other notable athletes, such as Lionel Messi, tennis champion Novak Djokovic, US sprinter Noah Lyles, and Formula One racer Max Verstappen. When asked about his nomination, Haaland expressed gratitude towards his teammates, coaches, and staff at Manchester City, acknowledging their crucial role in his achievements.
Dubbed “The Oscars of Sport,” the Laureus World Sports Awards aim to recognize the most significant sports accomplishments and acknowledge the broader impact on society made by athletes. Manchester City, with their impressive haul of five Premier League titles in six years and their first-ever Champions League trophy, has been nominated for the World Team of the Year Award.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed pride over the team’s nomination and emphasized the collective effort required to achieve such success: “We are nominated because we won so much last season, and it is an honor to be included in this illustrious list of teams who also achieved success at the elite level of sport.” Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning team, F1 champions Red Bull Racing, and the World Cup-winning Spanish women’s national team will compete with City for the prize.
Another notable nomination is that of Aitana Bonmatí, a midfielder from the World Cup-winning Spanish women’s national team. She was nominated for the World Sportswoman of the Year award after an exceptional season where she was recognized as the best women’s player globally. Bonmatí will face formidable competition for this prestigious prize, with US ski legend Mikaela Shiffrin and tennis star Iga Świątek also nominated.
The World Breakthrough of the Year Award will see Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham vie for recognition alongside other emerging talents, such as tennis star Coco Gauff. Coco Gauff created history in 2023 by claiming her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. The nominees for this year’s awards were determined based on a vote from members of the world’s media, and the winners will be chosen through a secret ballot by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
