It was the fifth time that Djokovic, the world's top-ranked tennis player, received the Laureus Award for "Sportsman of the Year", having already been distinguished in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019. Today, Djokovic became the athlete with the most Laureus awards in his career, on par with fellow tennis player Roger Federer. In 2023, Djokovic reached 24 Grand Slams, with victories in Australia, Roland Garros and the US Open. In addition to the Serbian, the nominees were Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, footballers Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, world record holder in pole vault Mondo Duplantis and American sprinter Noah Lyles. Djokovic told reporters in Madrid today that he considers the Laureus "completely different" from the other awards he has received in his career, because they are decided by a group of "sports legends" and are linked to an organization (the Laureus Foundation) that bases its mission on the principle that sport has "the power to change the world". The tennis player said he hopes to build a legacy with a positive and inspiring impact on young people, motivating them "to choose a positive direction" in their lives, and recalled that sport and international organizations have given "new opportunities and hope" to children from disadvantaged backgrounds around the world. "Sport is one of the rare areas of society that truly unites people from different cultures or traditions," said the tennis player, after recalling that there are conflicts all over the world and that he comes from a country, Serbia, that experienced war in the 1990s. Aitana Bonmatí, a footballer for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team, was awarded the Laureus for "Sportswoman of the Year" for the first time. The Laureus Academy highlighted that Aitana Bonmatí is the first footballer, male or female, to be national champion (with FC Barcelona) and world champion (with the Spanish national team) in the same year, to win the 'Champions' and to receive the Golden Ball. Spanish women's football won another award today, the Laureus for "Team of the Year", which went to the Spanish national team, winner of the World Championship in August 2023 in Australia. It was the first time that a women's team was awarded a Laureus Award. Aitana Bonmatí and fellow Spanish footballers Salma Paralluelo and Ivana Andrés acknowledged at a press conference after the awards ceremony that the world champions have become "a reference" for women, teenagers and girls in the last year, which they said is "a source of pride" and "very beautiful", but also a responsibility for the impact they have or can have. Stressing that when she was a child she had no "female references" in sport, Aitana Bonmatí added that she hopes that Spanish female footballers will now also be a reference for boys and young men, to build "mentalities for greater equality". In addition to Aitana Bonmatí, the nominees were Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek, American skier Micaela Shiffrin, Jamaican Shericka Jackson, Kenyan Faith Kipyegon and American Sha'Carri Richardson. In the previous two years, this award was received by Jamaican sprinters Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Along with the Spanish football team, the European team that played in the Ryder Cup in golf, the German men's basketball team and the South African men's rugby team were nominated for the Laureus "Team of the Year". At today's Laureus gala in Madrid, hosted by actor Andy Garcia, the "Breakthrough of the Year" awards were also given to Real Madrid's English footballer Jude Bellingham; "Comeback of the Year" to American gymnast Simone Biles and "Paralympic Sportsman of the Year" to Dutch tennis player Diede De Groot. Australian 'skater' Arisa Trew, 14, received the Laureus for "Best of the Year in Action Sports" and the Rafa Nadal Foundation received the "Sport for Good" award. The Laureus Awards distinguish the best athletes of the year in eight categories, which are chosen by the Laureus Academy, made up of 69 great international athletes of all time.