"Mastered everything"

Spain’s female footballers win Laureus awards

Aitana Bonmatí

(Bild: AFP)

Spain's women's footballers cleaned up at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday. The world champions were named Team of the Year, while Aitana Bonmatí from FC Barcelona was honored as Sportswoman of the Year. In the men's category, tennis ace Novak Djokovic received the award. 

"Our national team is a group like no other - our strength comes from every challenge we have faced, both on and off the pitch," explained Bonmati. "I think we've overcome them all," said the 26-year-old. The Spaniards had become world champions in Australia and New Zealand - the title win had been overshadowed by the kissing scandal involving the then Spanish association president Luis Rubiales.

"Proud of our status as pioneers!"
Bonmatí is the first female footballer to be awarded the prestigious prize. The Spaniards are also the first women's team to receive the trophy. "As the first women's team to win the Laureus Award, we are proud of our status as pioneers, and as a group we are as committed to equality and representation as we are to what we do on the soccer pitch," said Bonmatí, who was honored by former sprint star Usain Bolt.

Other nominees included the Austrian-British Formula 1 team Oracle Red Bull Racing and the European Ryder Cup team with Sepp Straka from Vienna.

"The Laureus Awards are something very special!"
Djokovic won the trophy for Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time at the 25th edition of the global sports awards. "The Laureus Awards are very special because they recognize the 69 world-class athletes who make up the Laureus World Sports Academy. Receiving the votes of my sporting heroes is what makes these awards so coveted throughout sport," said the Serb.

Other Laureus Awards were also presented to professional soccer player Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid, gymnastics star Simone Biles from the USA, skateboarder Arisa Trew from Australia and Dutch wheelchair tennis player Diede de Groot. The awards were presented by a jury of 69 athletes from the Laureus Academy, including one Austrian, Franz Klammer.