Lionel Messi was named World Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Paris this week.

Messi shared the award with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton in 2020.

He was currently represents Paris Saint-Germain in the Ligue 1 in France – and was instrumental to Argentina’s title-winning campaign at the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

“This is the first time I have been the sole winner of the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award and after a year when we finally won another prize we had been chasing for a long time, at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, it’s an honour to be able to hold this Laureus Statuette,” said Messi.

“This is a special honour, particularly as the Laureus World Sports Awards are in Paris this year, the city that has welcomed my family since we came here in 2021,” said Messi, who signed for Paris Saint-Germain two years ago.

“I want to thank all my team-mates, not only from the national team but also at PSG. I have achieved none of this alone and I am grateful to be able to share everything with them.

“I want to thank the Laureus Academy – what makes these awards so special to us as athletes is the fact that they are voted for by these incredible champions, my heroes, and this puts my sporting achievements in true context.”

Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the World Sportswoman of the Year award.

Manchester United and Denmark footballer Christian Eriksen won the  Comeback of the Year award.

Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz was won the World Breakthrough of the Year award.