Lionel Messi Shares 2020 Laureus Sportsman Award With Lewis Hamilton

Ahead of the kick-off of Formula One new season, Lewis Hamilton had started the year with winning the Laureus Sportsman Awards which he jointly won with Barcelona star striker Lionel Messi.

Hamilton and the Fifa Men's World's best player, Messi, were voted the winners of this year's World's Sportsmen of the Year at the ceremony that was held at the Verti Music Hall, Berlin, marking the first time the award will be shared amongst two contenders.

The pair won most votes to edge out other contenders like Golf champion Tiger Woods, motorcycle racer Marc Marquez and long-distance runner and Olympic silver medallist Eliud Kiochoge of Kenya.

"I apologize I was not able to come to the event tonight," Messi said on his absence at the event. "I really wanted to be there for every but unfortunately, I could not make it. I would like to thank the Academy for giving me this recognition."

Meanwhile, Formula One's six-time champion, Hamilton, was present at the event to receive the award presented by former Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger on Monday.

"It's all our responsibility to use our platform for really pushing for equality, inclusivity and making sure that we are engaging and trying to represent where the world is today," said Hamilton.