Lionel Messi and Lewis Hamilton shared the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award on Monday night.

The pair pipped Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal, Marc Marquez and Eliud Kipchoge for the honour.

Messi and Hamilton tied for first place in voting by the former sports greats who make up the members of the Laureus Academy.

Lewis Hamilton shared the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award with Lionel Messi

Hamilton was given the award by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on the night

Messi, who was not at the event, thanked his voters via a video link during the event

Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, was named Sportswoman of the Year

LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS 2020
SPORTSMAN: Lionel Messi and Lewis Hamilton

SPORTSWOMEN: Simone Biles

COMEBACK: Sophia Floersch

TEAM: South Africa Men’s Rugby Team

SPORTING MOMENT: India Men’s Cricket Team

BREAKTHROUGH: Egan Bernal

SPORTSPERSON WITH DISABILITY: Oksana Masters

ACTION SPORTSPERSON: Chloe Kim

ACADEMY EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Spanish Basketball Federation

SPORT FOR GOOD AWARD: South Bronx United

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Dirk Nowitzki

Hamilton, who was given the award by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, said: ‘It’s all of our responsibility to use our platform for really pushing for gender equality, inclusivity and making sure that we are engaging and trying to represent where the world is today.’

Messi, who was not at the event, won his sixth Ballon d’Or last year as Barcelona won La Liga for the 26th time.

Hamilton was crowned F1 world champion for the sixth time in a tremendous year for the British star.

Messi who was not at the event said: ‘I apologise I was not able to come to the event tonight.

‘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.

‘The truth is that this is a very special award and I am honoured to be the first to win this from a team sport. Thank you very much.’

Simone Biles, who helped the US to win a fifth straight gymnast team title and became the most decorated gymnast in World Championship history with 25 medals – 19 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze, was crowned Sportswoman of the Year.

South Africa won the Team of the Year award having defeated Eddie Jones’ England in the Rugby World Cup final.

Also on the night, the Spanish basketball federation won the Exceptional Achievement award.

Snowboarder Chloe Kim won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year for a second time.

American cross-country skier Oksana Masters was crowned World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.