McIlroy's award follows his Masters victory at Augusta in April 2024, which made him the sixth player to complete a career grand slam. He had been one major away from that achievement since 2014. Norris secured his maiden Formula One title in 2025 after a battle with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Alcaraz won grand slam titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2025, but his participation in future events is uncertain after he pulled out of the 2025 Madrid Open due to a wrist injury. Other winners at the awards included Aryna Sabalenka as World Sportswoman of the Year, Lamine Yamal as the inaugural Young Sportsperson of the Year, Paris St Germain as Team of the Year, Chloe Kim as Action Sportsperson of the Year, Nadia Comaneci with a Lifetime Achievement Award marking 50 years since the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history, and Gabriel Araujo as Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.