Lionel Messi and Rafael Nadal have received nominations for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award
The camaraderie between Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi is setting some serious bromance goals. After Laureus Sports awards announced the nominations for the prestigious Sportsman of the Year Award for 2023, Nadal had taken to Instagram and stated that Messi deserves to win the award and now Messi has returned the compliments.
Besides Messi and Nadal, top sporting stars like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Katie Ledecky, Tiger Woods, Stephanie Gilmore, Mikaela Shiffrin, Mondo Duplantis, Oksana Masters, Max Verstappen have also received nominations for the award this year.
Once the nominations were announced, Nadal wrote on his Instagram story: “An honour to be nominated again for the @laureus sportsman of the year award but this year @leomessi, you deserve it.” The Argentine legend has now responded back and uploaded an Instagram story, stating: “That an athlete as great as you put that on me, leaves me speechless. Many thanks Rafa, you deserve it as well for the way you compete every time you go on court. You are a winner.” Both Nadal and Messi had an incredible 2022 and it remains to be seen who eventually wins the award.
Let us take a look at some of the reactions from fans on social media.
“The bromance between the two G.O.A.Ts is real”, wrote a fan.
“Messi should not talk about tennis. He knows nothing about it. The Establishment World again elaborating on what to say according to the corresponding “mandates”. Really pathetic”, tweeted a fan with an extreme opinion.
“Wonderful. Btw still farcical that Messi & Federer never met “like this.”Sad, almost. They should have a one on one dinner & chat for hours”, read a tweet.
“Federer, Nadal, Brady, Kobe and Messi, my top 5 sportspersons of all time”, tweeted another fan.
Another critical fan stated: “Propaganda by establishment PR.”
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