"You are a winner" - Lionel Messi praises Rafael Nadal ahead of Sportsman of the Year

| by Alex Waite

Lionel Messi has responded to Rafael Nadal ahead of the 2023 Sportsman of the Year title at the upcoming Laureus Sports Awards.

Nadal previously praised Messi and the Spaniard was urging the football star to win the award. However, Messi quickly responded to the praise from Nadal with a post of his own. Messi, who won the 2022 World Cup in December with Argentina, took to Instagram to express his thanks for Nadal's acknowledgement and the 35-year-old also applauded the Spaniard's competitiveness.

"That such a great sportsman like you put me on that leaves me speechless. Thank you so much @rafaelnadal, you too deserve everything for the way you compete every time you step on the court. You are a winner, they all deserve the @laureussport this year the truth!!!"

Messi wrote on Instagram
2023 Miami Open ATP Entry List - Alcaraz, Medvedev, Tsitsipas & more
2023 Miami Open ATP Entry List - Alcaraz, Medvedev, Tsitsipas & more

Nadal and Messi have both won the Sportsman of the Year award twice and the pair earned their seventh nomination for the 2023 edition. In his initial post, Nadal was backing Messi to win the award and the 36-year-old felt the Argentinian football star deserved the accolade.

"Come on Messi, you deserve it."

Nadal previously wrote about Messi

Nadal's nomination for the Sportsman of the Year award came after a strong 2022 season. The Spanish player won his 21st and 22nd Grand Slam titles at the Australian and French Opens last season.

For a short period, the 36-year-old was the all-time major title record-holder in men's tennis. However, Novak Djokovic's win at the 2023 Australian Open drew the Serbian level to equal Nadal's Grand Slam record.

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