Beijing, May 5 (Reporter Xing Rui) In the early morning of the 9th Beijing time, the 9 Lawrence Award Ceremony was held in Paris, France, as scheduled. Argentine football superstar Rio Messi won the Male Athlete of the Year award.
Although Messi has already set a series of records, the moment the winners are officially announced, he has another legend that bears his name.
Known as the "Oscars of sports", the Laureus World Sports Awards are one of the most influential awards in world sports. Messi is the only winner of the Laureus Male Athlete of the Year from the collective event. This is his second time since 2020.
In 2020, Messi shared the honor of Male Athlete of the Year with F1 world champion Hamilton, becoming the first footballer in history to win the award. With his excellent performance in leading Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar, Messi was crowned again this time.
Image source: Lawrence Awards official social media.
The official Laureus Award said: "The footballer reached new heights last year when he led the Argentine national team to the third World Cup in history. ”
Last year, Messi led Argentina to its third Hercules Cup in franchise history, and he himself won the World Cup Ballon d'Or with seven goals and three assists. This hard-won gold cup has become a testimony to the coronation of another Argentine superstar.
Data map: In the early morning of December 2022, 12, Beijing time, in the Qatar World Cup final, Argentina defeated France 19:7 on aggregate to win the cup.
The Argentine men's football team led by Messi won the 2023 Laureus Best Sports Team Award.
"The Argentina men's football team won the 2023 Laureus Team of the Year award. Their performance at the 2022 World Cup shocked world football and defeated France in one of the greatest finals in the history of the World Cup. Lawrence Prize officials wrote.
Image source: Lawrence Awards official social media.
From 2006 to 2023, from 19 to 36 years old, from the European continent to the Arabian Peninsula, the story of Messi's dream is like a romantic and beautiful fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. What makes "Messi's fairy tale" even more attractive is that it makes people understand that dreams can really be illuminated into reality.
19 years old, in Germany, young Messi made his first appearance in the World Cup, young but stunning enough; At the age of 23, in South Africa, he was full of ambition and finally lost his harvest and tasted bitterness at the beginning; 27 years old, in Brazil, the team suffered a final killing, Messi's longing for the Hercules Cup that looked at it, which broke countless people's hearts; At the age of 31, in Russia, Messi, who is difficult to support alone, cannot make the team go further on his own.
Infographic: Argentina's Lionel Messi wins 2022 Men's Footballer of the Year award (World Footballer of the Year)
The lack of ambition at the national team level once caused Messi to fall into self-doubt: "I have tried many times and tried many times, but I really can't lead the team to win. This frustration once surrounded Messi so deeply that he even withdrew from the Argentine national team for a time.
Today is cruel, tomorrow is even more cruel, the day after tomorrow is good, but most of the people die tomorrow night, and they can't see the sun the day after tomorrow. Thankfully, Messi did not fall one step away from success. After experiencing the twists and turns of his national team career, the football genius who finally raised the Hercules Cup high above his head proved to the world the value of persistence and patience.
World Cup in Qatar, no longer young Messi, with the unfavored Argentine team, had the last laugh. "Messi's fairy tale", ushered in a happy finale.
Infographic: Messi kisses the Hercules Cup. Photo by China News Agency reporter Cui Nan
After lifting the Lawrence trophy, Messi delivered an acceptance speech. He said: "Thank you all for this award, I am very happy to be here at this ceremony, and it is my honor to share this award with the other winners. ”
"It's always good to be recognised like this, but the sport is team sport and this year I achieved my biggest dream: winning the World Cup with my team."
"I've done a lot for it, it's already at the end of my career. I had a lot of happiness at Barça and a lot of sad moments with the national team, but after a lot of setbacks, I became a better version of myself. ”
Messi appeared in a three-star Argentina shirt.
Someone asked on the Q&A website: "Why does everyone love Messi?" ”
One replied read: "Because he did what we can only dream of." ”
From a "dwarfism" patient to a football superstar, from a proud son to being questioned, from withdrawing from the national team to lifting the Hercules Cup, Messi has never bowed to fate. Even if he has already achieved fame now, the hardships and ups and downs on his road to chasing his dreams are not like us who work hard for life?
The difference is that Messi has never felt sorry for himself. He worked hard to protect his football dreams, did his best, and finally got what he wanted.
Messi celebrates the goal
In Messi, countless people saw their own shadow. As the football poet He Wei said: "The reason why we love football deeply is because it not only shows the inspirational struggle stories of the players, but also places the heroic dreams of our ordinary people's ordinary lives." ”
"I achieved my dream, and although it took some time, it was the best thing in my life, and it took so long for our country to come true. This belongs to Argentina, and I would like to say it again, thank you very much. At the end of his acceptance speech, Messi said. (End)