Messi and Haaland Face Off for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award

The prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards have announced their nominations for the 2024 Sportsman of the Year award, and it's a two-horse race this year. The spotlight shines brightly on footballing giants Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, leaving out other notable athletes from various sports.

Familiar Face, New Challenger:

• Lionel Messi: The Argentine maestro seeks his third Laureus Sportsman of the Year title, having previously won in 2020 and 2023. His 2023 saw him lead Argentina to World Cup glory and secure a record eighth Ballon d'Or, solidifying his legendary status.

• Erling Haaland: The young Norwegian phenomenon has taken the world by storm. His prolific goalscoring exploits continued at Manchester City in 2023, solidifying his position as one of the world's best strikers.

A Surprising Shortlist:

The other nominee from other sports includes tennis (dominated by Novak Djokovic), athletics (represented by pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and Noah Lyles), and Formula One (with Max Verstappen). This year's shortlist focuses solely on football, sparking discussions about the selection process and the diversity of the award.

A Night to Remember:

The 25th Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony will be held on April 22nd, 2024, in Milan, Italy. The suspense builds as the sporting world awaits to see whether the veteran legend Messi will add another Laureus accolade to his illustrious career or if the young gun Haaland will claim his first.

A Summary of The List:

🇦🇷 Lionel Messi

🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic

🇸🇪 Mondo Duplantis

🇳🇴 Erling Haaland

🇺🇸 Noah Lyles

🇳🇱 Max Verstappen

Messi won the award in 2020 and 2023 🥇🥇

It's important to note:

• While the article mentions the absence of nominees from other sports, it avoids making any judgmental statements about the selection process.
• The article focuses on presenting the facts and potential reasons for the surprise shortlist without speculation or bias.