A look at teams nominated for Laureus World Team of the Year Award

Published at :March 15, 2024 at 10:47 PM

Modified at :March 15, 2024 at 10:47 PM

(Courtesy : TOI)

Inaugural champions dominate the list.

As the new year unfolds, it’s time for the most prestigious night in the world of sports to take center stage. The 25th annual Laureus World Sports Awards are set to take place in Madrid on April 22. Consequently, the nominations for the traditional seven award categories have been announced, undoubtedly recognizing the greatest sportspersons and athletes from around the globe.

The Laureus Ultimate Global Athlete Award represents the pinnacle of recognition for athletes across all disciplines. Each category features six elite athletes selected by the 1,300 members of the Laureus Global Media Panel. Interestingly, in addition to athletes, the Laureus also honours the world’s greatest teams annually with their ‘Laureus World Team of the Year.’

Thriving as a team is probably the most challenging aspect of sports. Yet, some teams have managed to excel in this aspect as well and the Laureus Awards does not let their hard work go unnoticed. Here are the teams that have been nominated for the 25th Laureus World Team of the Year:

Spain Women’s Football Team

Spain’s Women’s National Football Team made history by clinching their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. La Roja edged England with a 1-0 victory in the finals, placing themselves on the map of women’s football.

Despite facing numerous controversies and fielding a newly-structured team, the Spanish players delivered a compelling performance, securing the title for the first time in their history.

German Men’s Basketball Team

The German Men’s Basketball Team won gold at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The German team overcame 11-time winners and defending champions, the USA, in the semi-finals.

They continued their dominance on the court in the finals against Serbia, securing an 83-77 victory and the German Men’s Basketball Team emerged triumphant.

Manchester City

2023 was a historic year for Manchester City. The club clinched the FIFA Club World Cup against Fluminense, securing a 4-0 victory in Saudi Arabia.

Manchester City became the first English club to claim the Premier League title, win the Big Five, the FA Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup, all within a single year! Consequently, the club have earned a well-deserved nomination for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award.

European Ryder Cup Team

The European Ryder Cup team carried the day in the 44th Ryder Cup match, outscoring the USA 16.5 to 11.5 in 2023, in Rome, Italy. Remarkably, the European team maintained their champions status for the fifth consecutive time, even against top-ranked players from the World Golf Rankings competing in Italy.

In addition to a Laureus nomination, the European Ryder Cup team has also been honoured with the 2023 Association of Golf Writers (AGW) Golf Writers’ Trophy award.

Oracle Red Bull Racing

Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominated the 2023 season, setting a standard that would be challenging even for them to surpass.

In addition to the star driver’s victories, Oracle Red Bull Racing achieved an unprecedented 21 Grand Prix wins and clinched the 2023 F1 Constructors’ Championship in September 2023, marking their second consecutive championship victory.

Springboks

The South Africa national rugby union team, also known as the Springboks, successfully defended their title by securing the Men’s Rugby World Cup for the fourth time, narrowly defeating New Zealand by one point in the finals. The Springboks set records, becoming the first team to win consecutive titles away from home and the only team to secure the World Cup after suffering a defeat in one of the pool matches.

The prestigious 25th Laureus World Sports Awards will showcase a gathering of sports legends in April, where the greatest athletes will once again compete for the esteemed prize.

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