Six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and six-time world footballer Lionel Messi were honoured as best athletes at the Laureus Award in Berlin.
For the first time in the history of the awards, there were thus two winners in this category, both of whom beat Tiger Woods (USA/Golf), Marc Márquez (Spain/Motorcycle), Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya/athletics) and Rafael Nadal (Spain/tennis) on equal terms.
For Mercedes drivers Hamilton and Messi, it is the first time that they have been named Sportsman of the Year, and the two will succeed Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, who triumphed for the fourth time last year. The record winner of the Laureus Award is 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer (Switzerland), who has won five awards.
