Carlos Alcaraz Turns Fanboy as He Recalls His ‘Special’ Meeting With Soccer Legend Lionel Messi at Laureus

Do you think Novak Djokovic is the only tennis icon obsessed with the soccer magician and GOAT Lionel Messi? The Inter Miami star surprised the 24-time Slam king during his Miami Open campaign last month. He watched his SF encounter live and later the two even exchanged sweet words and special gifts with each other. But there’s one more ATP star who’s got a similar, deep connection with Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winner. It’s none other than 21-year-old tennis sensation and four-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz. At the Laureus World Sports Awards event on Monday, Alcaraz couldn’t resist his happiness at meeting the legend!

Let’s rewind a bit to recall Carlos Alcaraz’s initial encounter with Lionel Messi at the 23rd Laureus Awards in May 2023. That same month unfolded as a whirlwind for the young Spaniard. It began with his 20th birthday on a Friday, followed by a triumphant Sunday where he, as the top seed, successfully defended his Mutua Madrid Open title, marking his 21st consecutive victory on Spanish clay. The momentum carried into Monday evening, finding him in Paris in the company of sporting legends like Lionel Messi.

On one hand, Alcaraz won the Breakthrough of the Year Award for his first slam at the Flushing Meadows in 2022. On the other, Messi, was named World Sportsman of the Year in that edition for his exploits and those of his 2022 World Cup-winning nation. While being on the red carpet, Alcaraz was asked about his feelings about being around Messi.

His honest reaction was: “It’s crazy. I’ve never met him before,” reported ATP’s website in 2023. “It’s crazy to see him here metres from me. It’s crazy, it’s crazy, honestly.” And there was more!

And moments later, they both shared a warm greeting. After the event, Alcaraz also took a group selfie with other famed athletes. Messi was also in the frame. And guess what? Exactly 13 months and 13 days later, on April 22, 2025, during the 25th edition of Laureus World Sports Awards, Alcaraz was asked about what it felt like coming face-to-face with the former Barcelona player.

“It was a great moment for me, meeting a legend from sport, like Lionel (Messi),” he said with a great smile on his face. Also crediting Laureus for this special opportunity, he added, “It was quite a cool moment for me that I will never forget for sure. I think it’s thanks to the Laureus being able to meet legends like Lionel and it was pretty special.”

But guess what? The intriguing bond of Alcaraz and Messi isn’t just limited to interactions at the Laureus awards. If you have been following the Spanish tennis sensation for a long time, you know how he’s received special messages from Messi in the past.

Lionel Messi pleasantly shocked Carlos Alcaraz with a good luck gift last year

At the 2024 Roland Garros, Carlos Alcaraz succeeded in capturing his third slam. It was also his first on the Parisian clay court. He defeated German pro Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. While the happiness of lifting the trophy was unquantifiable, a special gift from Lionel Messi doubled it further. How?

Shortly after the men’s singles final at the French Open went underway, it was revealed on social media that Messi sent a gift to Alcaraz to wish him luck for the summit clash. So what was this gift? Well, he sent him a framed No.10 Inter Miami jersey. Plus, it had a message written over it: “To Carlos with affection” Interestingly, Messi also sent a similar gift to Alcaraz’s idol and 22-time Slam, king Rafael Nadal.

At the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards, the 14-time Roland Garros champion had backed Messi to win the Sportsman of the Year award. They both were nominated in the category, but the Spaniard wanted the Argentinian to grab the honor. “An honor to be nominated again for Sportsman of the Year by The Laureus…but…this year…Come on Leo Messi, you deserve it.” Interestingly, Nadal received the Laureus Sporting Icon Award at this year’s edition in Madrid, making him the second-ever recipient in that category.

A second gift followed later that year. In December 2023, Messi sent Nadal a signed Argentina jersey with a message. It read, “For Rafa, with much love and admiration,” informed his tennis academy. Apparently, Messi offered him the memorabilia to commemorate the one-year-anniversary of winning the FIFA World Cup for Argentina in 2022.

What are your thoughts on Nadal, and then his protégé Alcaraz receiving similar gifts from Messi? Let us know in the comments below.