“You are an example to everyone”: Lionel Messi Congratulates Rafael Nadal After 2021 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award

Lionel Messi Congratulates Rafael Nadal After 2021 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award: Messi penned a congratulatory message for Rafael Nadal after the tennis player won the coveted award for the second time

Nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award, Rafael Nadal ended up being conferred with the revered glistening trophy for 2021.

Nominated for the award for the sixth time in his career, Nadal’s 2021 triumph was the second time he had ended up with the prize under his arms. Nadal beat Joshua Cheptegei (athletics), Armand Duplantis (athletics), Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1), LeBron James (basketball) and Robert Lewandowski (football) to claim the accolade.

Messi Congratulates Nadal

Ensuing his win, Nadal saw a raft of congratulatory messages flow in for him. However, one which is bound to reserve a special place is the message of congratulations sent in by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

“Hi Rafa. I just wanted to congratulate you on this award which is obviously more than deserved,” Lionel Messi said. “I would also like to say that you are an example to everyone because of your hard work, your perseverance and for being at the highest level for so many years. And I wanted to send you warm regards.”

The message holds extra weightage owing to the fact that Nadal is well documented as a Real Madrid supporter. However, Messi decided to keep rivalry apart for a day to congratulate Nadal on his special day.

Messi meanwhile has himself won the world sportsman of the year award on only the one occasion till date. Despite being nominated on more occasions than Nadal, Messi’s solitary win came in the 2020 instalment of the awards.

“For me personally, of course achieving the 13th @rolandgarros and equalled the 20th Grand Slam of @rogerfederer has been an unforgettable moment for me,” Nadal said after being crowned the accolade for this year.

Nadal is widely touted as the king of the clay surface with the Spaniard having raked in French Open wins at will.