Days After Lionel Messi Joined the Elite Company of Serena Williams, Lewis Hamilton, and Kelly Slater, 11x WSL Champ Has a Message for the Soccer Legend

It was started in 1999 by patrons Daimler and Richemont to honor individuals’ and teams’ sporting achievements throughout the year. Today, the Laureaus World Sports Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in the sporting world. Its latest edition was held in Paris, France, and of the many awardees, this soccer legend from Argentina won his 2nd award. Now, from one legend to another, surfing great Kelly Slater, who also won the World Surfing League a record 11 times, penned a congratulatory note to him for winning the award and being part of an elite group of athletes that include Serena Williams and Lewis Hamilton among others.

7x Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner Lionel Messi won his 2nd Laureaus World Sports Award on 8th May 2023 for Sportsman of the Year. The feat didn’t go unnoticed by the sporting world, including that of Kelly Slater.

Here’s how Kelly Slater honored Lionel Messi for his big win

Kelly Slater wrote on his Instagram story, “Congratulations @leomessi, well-deserved @laureaussportswards following your incredible achievements last year. A historic two Laureus Awards last night (joining me and my friend @lewishamilton each with 4) and also winning Team of the Year, tying the incredible Serena Williams with 5 Laureus Statuettes. And huge thanks to @laureussport for always supporting all sports and athletes and creating great events for the occasion”.

For the unversed, Lionel Messi won 2 Laureus World Sports Awards last night, one for Sportsman of the Year and another for World Team of the Year. The latter was won by Argentina, who won their 3rd FIFA World Cup ever in December last year, after beating then-defending champions France in the penalty shootouts. He last won the Sportsman of the Year in 2020, tied with Lewis Hamilton. He has also previously won 2 Laureus awards with Barcelona, one for Spirit of Good in 2007 and the other for Best Team in 2012.

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Also mentioned, Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams have won multiple Laureus Sports Awards in the past. The latter tops the tally of most Laureus Sports Awards won by a female athlete.

Serena Williams, Lewis Hamilton, and Kelly Slater among multiple Laureus Sports Awardees

Serena Williams has had an illustrious career with 23 Grand Slams and as many as 5 Laureus World Sports Awards. She won 4 of them for Sportswoman of the Year in 2003, 2010, 2016, and 2018 respectively. She also won the award for Comeback of the Year in 2007, when she won her 8th Grand Slam at the Australian Open. This makes her 5 Laureus Sports Awards tied with Messi’s 5 awards. Messi too was lost for words on the night of his win after being part of this elite company, which also includes Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, etc.

Lewis Hamilton won the Sportsman of the Year award in 2020, jointly with Lionel Messi. He also won the award for Breakthrough of the Year in 2008, Team of the Year in 2018 for the Mercedes F1 Team, and Athlete Advocate of the Year award in May 2021 as its debut recipient. The person honoring Messi, Kelly Slater himself is a recipient of 4 Laureus Sports Awards in the category ‘Action Sportsperson’ of 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2012. Thus, both of them winning an equal 4 awards to date.

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In the end, Slater also thanked the Laureus Sports Foundation for constantly supporting and uplifting sports and sportspersons from around the world.