Verstappen misses out and does not win this year's 2023 Laureus Award

Max Verstappen was nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Award for the second year in a row. The election took place tonight and the Red Bull Racing driver was not among the 2023 winners. Lionel Messi emerged the winner of the highly regarded sports award.

The award - also called "the Oscar of sport" - has been won by several sports greats in recent years. Usain Bolt, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods and Lionel Messi have all received the award before. Formula 1 drivers Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton have also won the award in the past. Last year, Verstappen became the fourth F1 driver to receive the trophy.

The competition for Verstappen was fierce this year. Besides the 25-year-old Limburger, footballers Kylian Mbappé was also nominated, as were tennis player Rafael Nadal, basketball player Stephen Curry and pole vaulter Armand Duplantis.

Lionel Messi is the 2023 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

The iconic footballer reached even greater heights last year, when he inspired @Argentina to a historic third @FIFAWorldCup triumph. #Laureus23 pic.twitter.com/kE0N7XzC1h

— Laureus (@LaureusSport) May 8, 2023