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Rafael Nadal was honoured with the Laureus Sporting Icon Award at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony held in Madrid. This prestigious accolade recognizes his extraordinary tennis career, which includes 22 Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and numerous Davis Cup victories for Spain. The award serves as a tribute to his enduring legacy and impact on the sport following his retirement in November 2024. During the ceremony, Nadal received a heartfelt video tribute narrated by actor Morgan Freeman, highlighting the most iconic moments of his career.
In his acceptance speech, Nadal expressed gratitude for the recognition and reflected on his journey, stating that he feels at peace with his decision to retire and does not miss professional tennis. He said, “I don't miss tennis at all. I quit happily, and if I could have, I would have continued playing because I loved what I was doing.” He went to add by saying, “What would have been hard is being on my couch and wondering if I should keep trying to play. But when you realize you can't anymore, you try to turn the page, and that's what I did.”
Nadal completes ‘Laureus Slam’ with latest award
Rafael Nadal has been honored with five Laureus World Sports Awards, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest athletes of all time. His accolades include Breakthrough of the Year (2006), two Sportsman of the Year awards (2011, 2021), the Sport for Good Award (2024) recognizing the Rafa Nadal Foundation, and now the prestigious Sporting Icon Award (2025) upon his retirement. He is the only athlete to achieve the ‘Laureus Slam’ winning in all major categories, a true testament to his excellence and global impact.
The 2025 Laureus Awards also celebrated other outstanding athletes like Simone Biles and Mondo Duplantis, who were named Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year respectively. Real Madrid received the Team of the Year award and Lamine Yamal was recognized as the Breakthrough of the Year.
