Berlin (dpa) - soccer world star Lionel Messi and six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton have been awarded together with the Laureus as athlete of the year. The Argentinian from FC Barcelona and the British Mercedes driver received the same number of votes in the election for the 20th Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin.
Hamilton received the sports award at a gala in the Verti Music Hall on Monday evening from the hands of former soccer coach Arsène Wenger. "It is so incredible to see the sizes that I can now follow," said the 35-year-old on stage: "I was inspired by many of you." Messi (32) had not traveled to Berlin and sent his thanks via video.
The Laureus World Sports Awards are the only worldwide award ceremony that honors the best athletes of the past year in different categories. Former German sports greats such as Boris Becker and Katarina Witt are among the more than 60 members of the Laureus Academy. The award ceremony took place in Berlin for the second time after 2016.
Laureus World Sports Awards