Down-to-earth and modest – despite his mega success. This is how tennis superstar Rafael Nadal (36) is known.
The latest example: the Spaniard’s reaction to the announcement of the nominees for the so-called “Sports Oscar”, the Laureus World Sports Award.
On Instagram, Nadal first thanked him politely for once again being among the candidates in the “World Athlete of the Year” category. “It’s an honor to be nominated again,” Nadal wrote – and added meaningfully: “But this year …” The two-time winner of the award (2011 and 2021) obviously grants the title to someone else!
In another Insta story, Nadal shared a video with the five other nominees: Kylian Mbappé (Soccer/PSG), Lionel Messi (Soccer/PSG), Stephen Curry (Basketball/Golden State Warriors), Mondo Duplantis (Pole Vault World Champion and – world record holder) and last year’s winner Max Verstappen (Formula 1 world champion).
There is even praise from Hoeneß … HE is the secret Bundesliga star!
Below that, he makes it very clear who would be the only true winner for himself: “Let’s go, Leo Messi! You deserve it!” The reason for Nadal’s selfless verdict is obvious: Messi finally achieved the long-awaited triumph at a World Cup with Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar, the icing on the cake of his incredible career with countless titles. In 2020, Messi shared the Laureus award with Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton.
Nadal would also have good arguments for success on his side. With the Australian Open and the French Open, he won two of the four most important titles in the tennis world last year and is now (together with Novak Djokovic) at the record mark of 22 Grand Slam triumphs.
A jury consisting of the 71 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy will now choose the winners from the nominees in the seven categories. This circle also includes Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Maria Höfl-Riesch and Katarina Witt.
