Carlos Alcaraz Wins First Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award

Carlos Alcaraz has been honored as the 2026 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, joining an exclusive club of tennis legends at the prestigious ceremony held in Madrid on Monday night. The 22-year-old Spaniard received the trophy from football icons Luis Figo and Iker Casillas, marking the first time he has claimed the sport’s most coveted individual recognition.

Alcaraz beat out a stacked field of nominees including rival Jannik Sinner, footballer Ousmane Dembele, pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, and cyclist Tadej Pogacar. The honor follows a standout 2025 season in which Alcaraz claimed a Tour-leading eight titles, including Grand Slam triumphs at Roland Garros and the US Open.

During his acceptance speech, Alcaraz reflected on receiving the Laureus Breakthrough Award just three years ago and sharing a stage with his idol Lionel Messi. He described following in the footsteps of giants like Federer, Djokovic, Usain Bolt, and compatriot Rafael Nadal as making the moment extraordinarily special.

Novak Djokovic — a five-time previous winner of the award — co-hosted the evening alongside skiing star Eileen Gu. Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca was also nominated for the Breakthrough of the Year category, reflecting the ATP Tour’s strong presence at the ceremony.