Haaland will take on Messi, Verstappen & Djokovic for prestigious Laureus award

Manchester City Treble winner Erling Haaland will take on Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic and Max Verstappen for the prestigious Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in April.

England star Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, has the chance to claim the Breakthrough of the Year accolade in his home city of Madrid as the shortlists were revealed.

Pep Guardiola's City will surely be favourites to win the Laureus Team of the Year prize after an exceptional 2023.

Laureus unveiled the nominees for the 25th edition of their World Sports Awards on Monday morning after 1,300 journalists and broadcasters from around the globe cast their votes.

The winners will be announced at the ceremony in the Spanish capital on April 22 following deliberations by the Laureus World Sports Academy - made up of sporting legends past and present.