Haaland will take on Messi, Verstappen & Djokovic for prestigious Laureus award
Manchester City Treble winner Erling Haaland will take on Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic and Max Verstappen for the prestigious Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in April.
England star Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, has the chance to claim the Breakthrough of the Year accolade in his home city of Madrid as the shortlists were revealed.
Pep Guardiola's City will surely be favourites to win the Laureus Team of the Year prize after an exceptional 2023.
Laureus unveiled the nominees for the 25th edition of their World Sports Awards on Monday morning after 1,300 journalists and broadcasters from around the globe cast their votes.
The winners will be announced at the ceremony in the Spanish capital on April 22 following deliberations by the Laureus World Sports Academy - made up of sporting legends past and present.
Norwegian striker Haaland scored 52 goals across all competitions in his debut season as City won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last season.
In the category for world's best sportsman, he comes up against Argentine legend Messi, who won a record eighth Ballon d'Or and signed for MLS club Inter Miami.
Serbian tennis star Djokovic, a four-time winner of the award, won three Slams and reached a record-equalling 24 majors.
Also on the shortlist is Dutch Formula One star Verstappen, who dominated the season to complete a hat-trick of world championships.
The Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and American sprinter Noah Lyles - who won a triple gold at the World Athletics Championships - are also nominated.
In the World Sportswoman of the Year award, Spanish footballer Aitana Bonmati is shortlisted after winning the World Cup and the Ballon d'Or.
She is joined by sprinters Shericka Jackson of Jamaica and
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