20 February 2023 , 20:41
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Max Verstappen is up for the top prize at the Laureus World Sports Awards – but the Formula 1 star faces some stern competition.
The Dutchman enjoyed a remarkable 2022 campaign and won the drivers' title by a whopping 146 points – smashing several records in the process. As well as a second consecutive F1 championship success, his efforts have now earned him a nomination for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
But Verstappen is far from the only household name up for the gong. To claim it, he will have to fend off competition from Lionel Messi – fresh from his World Cup win with Argentina last December – and his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe, who also dazzled in Qatar.
Also nominated is Rafael Nadal, who had a stellar first half of 2022 which began with a remarkable 21-match winning streak until injury took its toll. That run saw him become Australian Open champion, while the Spaniard also lived up to his 'King of Clay' moniker by scooping his 14th French Open title.
NBA icon Steph Curry is up for the award after playing a key role in the Golden State Warriors' fourth championship success in eight years. Mondo Duplantis, the Swedish-American athlete who broke the pole vault records and won both the indoor and outdoor world titles, rounds off the list.
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Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are nominated after their World Cup exploits in Qatar (AFP via Getty Images)The World Sportswoman of the Year nominees list is made up of Barcelona footballer Alexia Putellas, tennis world number one Iga Swiatek, swimming megastar Katie Ledecky, alpine skiing champion Mikaela Shiffrin and athletics champions Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Tennis is again represented in the Breakthrough of the Year category, with US Open men's champion Carlos Alcaraz and Wimbledon women's winner Elena Rybakina nominated. Golfer Scottie Scheffler is recognised for his incredible 2022 along with athlete Tobi Amusan, figure skater Nathan Chen and the Moroccan men's football team, who were the surprise package at the Qatar World Cup.
Tiger Woods is up for Comeback of the Year (AP)Like their driver Verstappen, Red Bull Racing are nominated though in the Team of the Year category. They are up against Curry's Warriors, France's men's rugby team, England's Euros-winning women's football team, men's world football champions Argentina and Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Tiger Woods is up for the Comeback of the Year gong, following his return to action after a car crash which caused severe damage to his legs. Footballer Christian Eriksen is in the same category, along with MotoGP star Francesco Bagnaia, cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten, basketballer Klay Thompson and athletics star Jakob Ingebrigtsen.