After tennis legend Rafael Nadal called him the ‘best in the world’ and that he deserved to win the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ award, the Argentine 10 was quick to respond.
Messi took to Instagram to thank and appreciate the words of the Spanish tennis star and the rest of the Hurricanes. Reposting Nadal’s story, the 36-year-old wrote on his Instagram, “A great athlete as you say leaves me speechless. Thank you so much @rafaelnadal, you deserve it all the way you compete every time you step on the court. You are a winner. ”
Lionel Messi on IG after Rafael Nadal said he deserved to win the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award.
A Humble Man on and off the pitch, GOAT! pic.twitter.com/UiA97PDntg
— 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐒 (@ChaaliiyKay) February 21, 2023
Then, true to his style and not overshadowing others, he praised the other nominated athletes: “We still have a lot of competition, don’t we? They all deserve @laureussport this year, really!!!”
Earlier on Tuesday, Rafael Nadal backed Lionel Messi to win the Laureus World Sports Awards. Nadal, on his Instagram story, wrote, “It’s an honor to be nominated again for Laureus Sportsman of the Year… but… this year… Messi, you deserve it.”
In 2021, Messi praised Nadal when he won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award in 2021.
“I want to say that you are an example to everyone for your hard work, your perseverance and being at the top for so many years,” Messi said in a video message.
Earlier, Nadal had said that he was backing Argentina and Lionel Messi to win the FIFA World Cup and how he was moved to tears after seeing Messi lift the World Cup.
Messi and Rafael Nadal, Dutch pilot Max Verstappen, Swede Armand Duplantis and American basketball player Stephen Curry have also been nominated for the prestigious award.
