MADRID — The 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards were presented in Madrid on Monday, with Carlos Alcaraz named World Sportsman of the Year and Aryna Sabalenka named World Sportswoman of the Year. The ceremony was hosted by Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu.

Alcaraz finished the 2025 season as the world number one in men's tennis, reclaiming the year-end top ranking after capturing Grand Slam titles at the 2025 French Open and the 2025 US Open. Sabalenka also ended 2025 as the world number one in women's tennis, reaching the finals of the Australian Open and the French Open and winning the US Open.

Lamine Yamal won the World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award, becoming the youngest athlete to have won two Laureus awards. He had previously been voted Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year in 2025.

Rory McIlroy received the World Comeback of the Year Award. He completed the career Grand Slam with a playoff victory at the 2025 Masters and defended his Masters title in 2026.

Paris Saint-Germain won the World Team of the Year Award following a 2025 campaign in which the club captured the French league, the French Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Lando Norris was named World Breakthrough of the Year, and Chloe Kim won the World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award. Gabriel Araujo won the World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award.

Toni Kroos received the Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award, and Nadia Comaneci was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Futbol Mas won the Laureus Sport for Good Award.

The Laureus World Sports Awards have been presented annually since 2000. Nominees are selected by the global media, with winners determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. Previous Sportswoman of the Year recipients from tennis include Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin and Naomi Osaka. At the 2025 Laureus Awards, Simone Biles was named World Sportswoman of the Year and Mondo Duplantis was named World Sportsman of the Year.