2024 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year- Aitana Bonmati Beats Lionel Messi to Do ‘Something That No Footballer Has Ever Done’

The 2024 Laureus World Award is currently underway, with winners of the respective nominees being announced. Moments ago, the much-anticipated result for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year came out as the remarkable turn of events saw Aitana Bonmati’s name being called up on the stage. With this feat, the Spanish international has not just outdone Lionel Messi but achieved a milestone that has never been recorded in the history of the beautiful game.

Bonmati is officially the winner of the 2024 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. Thanks to her incredible year, winning the 2023 FIFA World Cup and Golden Ball for Spain, the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona as well as the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best, no recipient of the Laureus World has ever won all these trophies in a single season. Even Messi fails to match this achievement due to the lack of a Champions League title. 

The last time the 36-year-old lifted the European trophy was back in 2015. Though the 8x Ballon d’Or winner was nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman award next season, he failed to lift the award, with Novak Djokovic clinching his third trophy. Messi finally opened his account in 2020 and then won the second one last year. However, neither of his wins came at the time he had won the Champions League. 

Meanwhile, Bonmati claims the award ahead of an athletic trio of Shericka Jackson, Faith Kipyegon, and Sha’Carri Richardson, USA’s Alpine Skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin and Polish tennis maestro Iga Swigtek. While it’s quite a remarkable feat that Bonmati has achieved that Messi didn’t, can we see La Pulga defend his title?

Can Lionel Messi lift his third Laureus World Sportsman Award of the Year? 

It’s quite hard to answer if Lionel Messi will actually come out successful in clinching his third title. It gets further complex after looking at the names who stand against him. Aside from Erling Haaland, Messi faces tough competition from other nominees including Max Verstappen, Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis, Novak Djokovic, and USA’s athletics star Noah Lyles. All of these names are heavy contenders for the coveted award. 

Judging his soccer calendar thus far, he has led Inter Miami to their first-ever Leagues Cup. The World Cup winner further impresses with his decent goal tally so far for the Herons. However, it remains doubtful if he will flourish against the likes of Haaland, who won a treble with Manchester City, or Djokovic, who continues to stay atop the world tennis rankings. Only time will answer all the questions.