The Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday night saw Sir Chris Hoy present the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award to Formula One driver Lando Norris, according to multiple reports. However, Norris could not attend the event, according to major media. Rory McIlroy, who won the Laureus Comeback of the Year award, was also not present at the ceremony, according to major media.
Rory McIlroy's award recognized a historic year in which he completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April 2025, according to multiple reports. He defended his Masters title by winning the Green Jacket for a second time earlier this month, according to major media. McIlroy had originally secured the Masters 12 months ago by defeating Justin Rose in a sudden-death play-off, according to multiple reports. He is only the sixth player in history to claim all four golf majors and only the fourth golfer to secure consecutive Green Jackets, following Sir Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, and Jack Nicklaus, according to major media.
Winning my second Laureus Award is a huge honour, both personally and for golf. To have the sport recognised on a global stage like this, alongside so many great athletes, means a lot.
Lando Norris earned Laureus recognition for his maiden Formula One title after a battle with Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, according to major media. He is currently in fifth position in the Formula One standings, 47 points behind Kimi Antonelli, according to major media.
Carlos Alcaraz was crowned Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, according to major media. However, the tennis star recently pulled out of the Madrid Open amid assessment on a wrist injury, according to major media. He has cast doubt over whether he would be able to defend his French Open crown next month, according to major media.
There are certain moments in your career that stay with you, and winning The Masters is one I'll carry with me forever. To then have a year like that recognised by Laureus is very special. Completing the career Grand Slam was incredibly emotional. It's something I've been chasing for a long time, and it probably means more because of everything that came before it - the near misses, the setbacks, and the questions along the way. That's a big part of the journey, and I'm grateful that this award recognises that.
Other Laureus award winners included Aryna Sabalenka, who claimed Laureus Sportswoman of the Year, according to major media. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and Spain scooped the inaugural Laureus Young Sportsperson of the Year, according to major media. Paris St Germain were named Laureus Team of the Year ahead of the Lionesses and Europe's Ryder Cup heroes, according to major media. Chloe Kim was named Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year, according to major media. Nadia Comaneci received a Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award 50 years on from the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history, according to major media. Gabriel Araujo won Laureus Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, according to major media.
Beyond the awards, the war in Iran has led to the cancellation of Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, according to major media.
I also want to congratulate all of the nominees, especially those in my category. There are some amazing stories there, and I've taken a lot of inspiration from them. I know the Laureus Awards were founded by Johann Rupert, who I'm fortunate to know, so that makes this even more meaningful. I also believe strongly in what Laureus stands for and the idea, as Nelson Mandela said, that sport has the power to change the world.
I can't believe waited 17 years to get one Green Jacket and now I've got two in a row, it's just sort of the way. I think all my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has
I’ve had my fair share of near-misses at the Masters over the years and those moments are tough at the time, but they’re also the ones that push you on, make you work harder and remind you not to give up. Thankfully it all came together for me in Augusta last year. I said when I was eight years old I wanted to win all the majors and to finally achieve that was an incredible feeling.