Carlos Alcaraz and Lionel Messi met at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards and their interaction was really heart-warming.
Even the biggest stars have their idols and last night in Paris, it was obvious that the ATP star has his in the world of football. Carlos Alcaraz won the 2023 Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award while Lionel Messi was named the 2023 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
Ahead of the awards ceremony, which took place in Paris, the young Spaniard was interviewed by one of the journalists and he was asked about the Argentinian superstar who was standing just a few meters behind him on the red carpet.
When was asked about Messi's presence, it was obvious that the World No. 2 on the ATP Tour was really enjoying the fact that he was so close to the football star as he couldn't keep smiling.
"It’s crazy. I’ve never met him before. It’s crazy to see him here metres from me. It’s crazy, it’s crazy, honestly."
During the interview, Alcaraz was told that Messi will be soon going around him and if he plans to shake his hand. Not sure about whether that will happen, the 20-year-old only replied: "I wish to do that, I wish to do that."
Little did he know that soon that will become reality and the moment that the whole sports world has been talking about for the past 24 hours was caught right on the tape. For the first time ever, Alcaraz and Messi met and shook hands as they exchanged a few quick words.
While the Argentinian football player won the ultimate award at the Laureus World Sports Awards and the young Spaniard was awarded with the breakthrough award, if Alcaraz continues in the trend that he set early on in his career, he may soon hold the trophy for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
The annual award which was first awarded in 2000 saw quite a few tennis players win it before. Roger Federer dominated from 2005 until 2008, winning four consecutive trophies. Rafael Nadal won in 2011 and he was soon followed by Novak Djokovic in 2012.
The Serb then won again in 2015 and 2016, with Federer returning to the throne in 2018. Djokovic won it again in 2019 and the last tennis player to be named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year is Rafael Nadal, who won in 2021.
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