The unexpected reaction of Rafa Nadal when sharing the list of candidates for the Laureus awards with Lionel Messi and his sincere message

0
Lionel Messi is one of the athletes candidates to win the award. There is also the Selection

Lionel Messi He is considered with full justification as one of the best athletes of all time and has the possibility of keeping a new prize to enlarge his showcases: the Laureus. This distinction, in which more than a thousand media outlets from 70 countries preliminarily vote to make up the candidate lists, has different categories and highlights excellence in sporting achievements achieved in the 2022 season, both individually and as a group.

The captain of the Argentine soccer team, champion in the World Cup in Qatar 2022, is a candidate to win the award for the best international male athlete of the year together with Rafael Nadal (winner in Australia and Roland Garros), Max Verstappen (Formula 1 champion), Kylian Mbappe (Runner of the world with France), Stephen Curry (NBA champion with Golden State Warriors) and Mondo Duplantis (world champion in pole vault).

When the official video that confirmed the candidates was released, the Spanish tennis player could not contain his admiration for the former Barcelona player and in an act of brutal sincerity he reacted in one of his stories of Instagram: “It’s an honor to be nominated again for the best athlete of the year at the Laureus awards, but this year… Come on Leo Messi, you deserve it”.

In another gesture of greatness, the 22-time Grand Slam champion and one of tennis’ living legends also praised his compatriot and successor, Carlos Alcaraz, number two in the ATP ranking and brand new winner of the Argentina Open. “Congratulations on your nomination”, celebrated Rafa for the candidacy of the man from Malaga among the athletes with the greatest progress in the season, which also includes, among others, the Moroccan soccer team.

Rafael Nadal's reaction upon learning that Lionel Messi shared the Laureus awards list with him (Instagram)
Rafael Nadal’s reaction upon learning that Lionel Messi shared the Laureus awards list with him (Instagram)

Both Nadal and Messi have already had the privilege of winning the Laureus, which began to be awarded in 2000. The man from Manacor won it twice (2011 and 2021) and the Rosario has shared one with the British Lewis Hamilton in 2020.

For its part, the Argentine soccer team is also in with a chance of winning an award for the best team of the year. The list of candidates is made up, in addition to the Scaloneta by the England women’s soccer team, France’s men’s rugby team, the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, Real Madrid and Formula 1’s Oracle Red Bull Racing.

See also  The four DNA tests that incriminate Dani Alves in the investigation for a sexual assault

Among other distinctions, the presence of Christian Eriksen, Klay Thompson y Tiger Woods as candidates for the “Best Comeback of the Year” award. All of them had different serious injuries that sidelined them for a time from their activities, but they have returned to professional practice.

Keep reading:

Lionel Messi was among the finalists for the FIFA The Best award as the best player in the world
Lionel Scaloni was among the three finalists for The Best award for the best coach in the world
Dibu Martínez was among the finalists for the FIFA The Best award as the best goalkeeper in the world
“Look at me, I’m a professional athlete and I’m gay”: the open letter of an athlete who moves the world