Generation Laureus - 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid
The 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards was a celebration of the power of youth
El futuro es nuestro. The future is ours.
El futuro es nuestro. The future is ours.
At the 27th annual Laureus World Sports Awards, a new generation of sporting greatness was acclaimed by the champions who have fundamentally reshaped the stages on which they perform.
Something special happened at the magical Palacio de Cibeles in the heart of Madrid, as the world watched. Every Laureus bestowed by the Academy of sporting legends who vote for the ‘Athletes’ Awards’ seemed to be a torch passed; a page turned; a challenge laid down.
It’s your turn now. Vamos!
The youngest winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.
The Laureus World Team of the Year is the youngest to win the Champions League.
A new Laureus minted: for the Young Sportsperson of the Year.
The youngest ever Nominee.
The youngest ever host.
Even when the athletes presenting this year’s Awards on stage seemed at first glance to connect to a different generation of greatness, a closer look revealed that their story, too, burned with the brightness of youth.
Something special happened at the magical Palacio de Cibeles in the heart of Madrid, as the world watched. Every Laureus bestowed by the Academy of sporting legends who vote for the ‘Athletes’ Awards’ seemed to be a torch passed; a page turned; a challenge laid down.
It’s your turn now. Vamos!
The youngest winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.
The Laureus World Team of the Year is the youngest to win the Champions League.
A new Laureus minted: for the Young Sportsperson of the Year.
The youngest ever Nominee.
The youngest ever host.
Even when the athletes presenting this year’s Awards on stage seemed at first glance to connect to a different generation of greatness, a closer look revealed that their story, too, burned with the brightness of youth.
Lamine Yamal arrived like a comet; just as he had burst into the footballing firmament in 2023, aged just 15.
He leapt from his red carpet ride, sending the Kia Fan Zone into a frenzy – the hottest player in world football is only a little older than many of the lucky youngsters who landed a selfie with him as he strode to the greatest show in sports.
As those images were shared to disbelieving classmates, Lamine Yamal’s posts from the red carpet were followed by tens of millions of his fans.
He leapt from his red carpet ride, sending the Kia Fan Zone into a frenzy – the hottest player in world football is only a little older than many of the lucky youngsters who landed a selfie with him as he strode to the greatest show in sports.
As those images were shared to disbelieving classmates, Lamine Yamal’s posts from the red carpet were followed by tens of millions of his fans.
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FC Barcelona’s prodigy received the inaugural Laureus World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award from Cafu and Ruud Gullit, two Laureus World Sports Academy Members who know what it is like to play in football’s brightest spotlight. Lamine Yamal was the catalyst in Barcelona’s Spanish treble in 2025 and it is easy to forget that, as well as being the world’s favourite footballer, he is also 18 years old.
He met the moment with grace, thanking his family and friends, his teammates and then, in a tone that would echo throughout the night, the Laureus World Sports Academy.
“I want to thank the Academy – the great champions who have voted for me, and all the legends who are here. I hope my career can have the same path as all of yours.”
He met the moment with grace, thanking his family and friends, his teammates and then, in a tone that would echo throughout the night, the Laureus World Sports Academy.
“I want to thank the Academy – the great champions who have voted for me, and all the legends who are here. I hope my career can have the same path as all of yours.”
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When – in an emotional end to the evening – Nadia Comăneci was surprised on-stage with the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, a connection between her story and that of the young sportsmen and women who had preceded her on-stage was not hard to see.
Comăneci was honoured 50 years on from the 1976 Olympics, where she earned the first Perfect 10s in the history of the Games (and three gold medals). Four years later, at her second and final Olympics, in Moscow, she won two further golds, at the age of 18 – the same age as Lamine Yamal.
Presenting Comăneci with her Laureus, Simone Biles, four-time Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, drew a clear line from one icon of sport to another. “She walked, ran and somersaulted so generations after her could walk, run and somersault in her footsteps. [She is] my hero and sporting inspiration.”
Comăneci was honoured 50 years on from the 1976 Olympics, where she earned the first Perfect 10s in the history of the Games (and three gold medals). Four years later, at her second and final Olympics, in Moscow, she won two further golds, at the age of 18 – the same age as Lamine Yamal.
Presenting Comăneci with her Laureus, Simone Biles, four-time Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, drew a clear line from one icon of sport to another. “She walked, ran and somersaulted so generations after her could walk, run and somersault in her footsteps. [She is] my hero and sporting inspiration.”
Comăneci’s Laureus celebrated not just the years in which she seemed to enchant the entire world on the mat and the bars and the beam, but for a lifetime spent in service: championing those without a voice and using every inch of her platform to elevate them. Yet, as she said on stage in Madrid, she has never forgotten the point of departure for her incredible journey: “Just a little girl who followed her passion. Seventeen seconds of my life at the Olympics changed everything.”
Throughout an unforgettable night of sporting celebration, illuminating social media well into the next day, the icons of today and tomorrow pointed at the heroes of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
Throughout an unforgettable night of sporting celebration, illuminating social media well into the next day, the icons of today and tomorrow pointed at the heroes of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
It began with Carlos Alcaraz, the new Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. It is three years since he received his first Laureus – the Breakthrough of the Year Award – in Paris. There, he met Lionel Messi on the red carpet and when he saw the footballing genius receive the Sportsman of the Year Laureus that evening, he acquired a new goal: “In 2023, when I won the Breakthrough Award, I told myself: one day I will win that one.”
Alcaraz received his second Laureus from two former players from his beloved Real Madrid: Iker Casillas and Luís Figo, one of the Academy who selected him for the honour. “So many legends of sport, so many athletes that I have admired for years, have received this Award. People who inspired a generation, people who made history. To now be able to say that my name is part of something like this is hard to describe, and it's a dream.”
Two weeks before his 23rd birthday, Alcaraz became the youngest ever Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
Alcaraz received his second Laureus from two former players from his beloved Real Madrid: Iker Casillas and Luís Figo, one of the Academy who selected him for the honour. “So many legends of sport, so many athletes that I have admired for years, have received this Award. People who inspired a generation, people who made history. To now be able to say that my name is part of something like this is hard to describe, and it's a dream.”
Two weeks before his 23rd birthday, Alcaraz became the youngest ever Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
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The Sportswoman of the Year Award also went to a first-time winner, a Grand Slam tennis champion and one who shares a birthday with Alcaraz.
Aryna Sabalenka has emerged from a thrillingly competitive era in women’s tennis as the clear No.1. Nevertheless, as she took her place on stage, receiving her Laureus from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won it three years ago, and Boris Becker, a Laureus Academy Member, she admitted to nerves and a sense of disbelief.
“It makes me feel crazy knowing my name is going to be next to those legends,” said Sabalenka. “Those athletes I watched and looked up to. It’s super bright here, so many stars. It’s an honour to be here with you.”
Aryna Sabalenka has emerged from a thrillingly competitive era in women’s tennis as the clear No.1. Nevertheless, as she took her place on stage, receiving her Laureus from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won it three years ago, and Boris Becker, a Laureus Academy Member, she admitted to nerves and a sense of disbelief.
“It makes me feel crazy knowing my name is going to be next to those legends,” said Sabalenka. “Those athletes I watched and looked up to. It’s super bright here, so many stars. It’s an honour to be here with you.”
This was Laureus for a new era. Instead of the Hollywood stars of previous editions, the 2026 show was presented by two former winners: Novak Djokovic, the five-time Sportsman of the Year, and Eileen Gu, the 2023 Action Sportsperson of the Year. They are both multi-lingual, multi-sport - and multi-talented.
From their opening skit to Djokovic springing onto stage using a Laureus as a tennis racket, to Gu’s perfect sign-off, they steered the show with the same skill and assuredness as they have on the grass court or the snow-covered slopes.
Not everyone could be a part of the party this time. The Laureus World Team of the Year are the youngest winners in the Champions League era, and in the middle of enthralling defences of both that title plus their domestic crown. The youthful Paris Saint-Germain side was represented by its elder statesman, Marquinhos, on the giant screen.
“We worked hard and put in a lot of effort to win titles last year and this one crowns a truly wonderful year,” he said.
From their opening skit to Djokovic springing onto stage using a Laureus as a tennis racket, to Gu’s perfect sign-off, they steered the show with the same skill and assuredness as they have on the grass court or the snow-covered slopes.
Not everyone could be a part of the party this time. The Laureus World Team of the Year are the youngest winners in the Champions League era, and in the middle of enthralling defences of both that title plus their domestic crown. The youthful Paris Saint-Germain side was represented by its elder statesman, Marquinhos, on the giant screen.
“We worked hard and put in a lot of effort to win titles last year and this one crowns a truly wonderful year,” he said.
The Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award went to a golfer whose latest victories have assured him of his place in the opening chapter of the history of the sport. By winning the Masters in 2025 Rory McIlroy became only the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam of all four Majors. It was also an emotional conclusion to an 11-year journey in pursuit of the final part of that puzzle. That comeback was so universally popular because he had been somehow frozen in time as the prodigious young talent who had seemingly fallen under a curse at Augusta National all those years ago.
McIlroy then defended that title in 2026, becoming the fourth golfer to do so – joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. McIlroy accepted his second career Laureus via a video message.
The Laureus once won by Gu, for Action Sportsperson of the Year, went to her friend Chloe Kim, now a three-time winner after a year that saw a third world championship for the snowboarder, plus a record eighth X Games gold.
McIlroy then defended that title in 2026, becoming the fourth golfer to do so – joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. McIlroy accepted his second career Laureus via a video message.
The Laureus once won by Gu, for Action Sportsperson of the Year, went to her friend Chloe Kim, now a three-time winner after a year that saw a third world championship for the snowboarder, plus a record eighth X Games gold.
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Nowhere was the connection between these generations of sporting excellence better illustrated than when Chris Hoy presented Lando Norris with the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award. The new Formula One drivers’ champion seemed undecided on which was the greater honour – receiving the Laureus or meeting Chris Hoy!
“[You are] an inspiration to me, to many around the world and a lot of people in the UK – this is even more special coming from you. I get to join a pretty incredible list of people I watched on TV when I was young, people who have gone on to become some of the most incredible athletes in the world. Not many people get to achieve their dream, but I was lucky to get to do that.”
When it came time to award the Laureus for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, another show-stopping moment. The winner, Gabriel Araújo, came to the stage and, speaking in English, said: “Being here is a dream for me. God willing this is first of many and we continue to make history. Let’s dance!”
And with that Araújo broke out the moves with which he celebrates all of his biggest wins: Paralympic golds, world titles and now, the greatest of them all: the Laureus.
“[You are] an inspiration to me, to many around the world and a lot of people in the UK – this is even more special coming from you. I get to join a pretty incredible list of people I watched on TV when I was young, people who have gone on to become some of the most incredible athletes in the world. Not many people get to achieve their dream, but I was lucky to get to do that.”
When it came time to award the Laureus for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, another show-stopping moment. The winner, Gabriel Araújo, came to the stage and, speaking in English, said: “Being here is a dream for me. God willing this is first of many and we continue to make history. Let’s dance!”
And with that Araújo broke out the moves with which he celebrates all of his biggest wins: Paralympic golds, world titles and now, the greatest of them all: the Laureus.
The Laureus stage is shared every year by a grassroots programme which has made a particularly impressive impact through its work; reflecting the work and ethos of Laureus Sport for Good across the world. The recipient of this year’s Laureus Sport for Good Award was revealed by the chairman of the Academy, Sean Fitzpatrick, and Missy Franklin, its youngest Member.
The Fútbol Más team that took the stage to accept the Laureus represented each of the three continents across which this ambitious, change-making project works. Guillermo Rolando Vicente, the programme’s co-founder, reflected on an almost 20-year journey “working in schools, refugee camps, neighbourhoods, sports clubs in these times when it seemed that human beings were losing the capacity to respect and understand one another. But at the same time sport is so powerful – to connect, to unite people. In this room, where you inspire not millions but billions of people, can you imagine what we can do if we use sport to give tools to change lives… maybe to change the world?”
The Fútbol Más team that took the stage to accept the Laureus represented each of the three continents across which this ambitious, change-making project works. Guillermo Rolando Vicente, the programme’s co-founder, reflected on an almost 20-year journey “working in schools, refugee camps, neighbourhoods, sports clubs in these times when it seemed that human beings were losing the capacity to respect and understand one another. But at the same time sport is so powerful – to connect, to unite people. In this room, where you inspire not millions but billions of people, can you imagine what we can do if we use sport to give tools to change lives… maybe to change the world?”
This year the Academy awarded two discretionary Laureus statuettes. One was to an unsuspecting Comăneci in a moment that brought the house down. The other was for a favourite of this city, someone who won everything in the white jersey of Real Madrid and now runs an academy here creating champions with compassion, and a foundation in Germany supporting seriously ill children and their families in their darkest hours.
Toni Kroos swapped all-white for all-black for the evening and took to the stage to receive his Laureus from his friend Djokovic.
“Just look around the room this evening – this gives the Laureus great value. So many inspiring people who achieved crazy things in their sport and they stay together for the same values, that’s pretty important. If we stand together for the right values – for peace, for respect – we can achieve a lot. We have legends here and young athletes and if we unite these generations then we can take a big step forward.”
Toni Kroos swapped all-white for all-black for the evening and took to the stage to receive his Laureus from his friend Djokovic.
“Just look around the room this evening – this gives the Laureus great value. So many inspiring people who achieved crazy things in their sport and they stay together for the same values, that’s pretty important. If we stand together for the right values – for peace, for respect – we can achieve a lot. We have legends here and young athletes and if we unite these generations then we can take a big step forward.”
The 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards united generations – of sports fans watching around the world and interacting on social media; and of athletes, as new champions were elevated by those who went before them. And running through these generations, a shared purpose, undiluted across more than a quarter of a century since it was first enshrined by the founding patron of this movement, Nelson Mandela: to change the world through the unique power of sport.
When Laureus was founded many of this year’s winners were not yet born; they have grown-up with the Awards increasingly recognised as the ultimate sporting accolade and – as a result – the one to which they aspire.
It was left to our hosts to close the show and – of course – Eileen Gu found a way to capture all of that as she and Novak Djokovic brought to an end an unforgettable evening.
“We’ve glimpsed the people who are the future of sport, celebrated the current superstars, and honoured the legends in whose footsteps they hope to follow.”
Set within the context of Sport for Good - the iconic words of Nelson Mandela, the founding vision of South African businessman-philanthropist Johann Rupert, and the presence of the world’s greatest athletes - the Awards once again proved something remarkable; that athletes really do have the power to change the world.
When Laureus was founded many of this year’s winners were not yet born; they have grown-up with the Awards increasingly recognised as the ultimate sporting accolade and – as a result – the one to which they aspire.
It was left to our hosts to close the show and – of course – Eileen Gu found a way to capture all of that as she and Novak Djokovic brought to an end an unforgettable evening.
“We’ve glimpsed the people who are the future of sport, celebrated the current superstars, and honoured the legends in whose footsteps they hope to follow.”
Set within the context of Sport for Good - the iconic words of Nelson Mandela, the founding vision of South African businessman-philanthropist Johann Rupert, and the presence of the world’s greatest athletes - the Awards once again proved something remarkable; that athletes really do have the power to change the world.
