For the sixth time, Novak Djokovic is named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year

At the esteemed event in Madrid, tennis legend Djokovic, a record 24-time Grand Slam winner, matched the mark held by his erstwhile opponent Roger Federer.

Djokovic, 36, took home three Grand Slam titles and the ATP Finals title in 2018.

“Winning my fifth is an immense honor,” said Djokovic. “I remember the year 2012, when I was 24 years old and won it for the first time.”

“Looking back on a year that brought me and my fans a lot of excitement and success, I am very proud to be here 12 years later.”

In addition to being awarded for winning the Women’s World Cup with her teammates from Spain, Bonmati became the first football player to earn the Sportswoman of the Year title.

For the first time in their existence, La Roja won the tournament, earning them the title of World Team of the Year.

The national squad, led by Bonmati, who previously won the Champions League with her club Barcelona, is “a group like no other – our strength comes from every challenge we have faced, both on and off the field of play.”

Bonmati and her colleagues received recognition for their protests against the disgraced former president Luis Rubiales’s forced kissing of player Jenni Hermoso, which helped to fight sexism in the Spanish football association.

A day after scoring the winning goal in the Clasico against Barcelona, England international Jude Bellingham was named the winner of the World Breakthrough of the Year award for his incredible start to life at Real Madrid.

Bellingham, who scored 21 goals in all competitions during his first year with Los Blancos, leads the team in scoring.

Simone Biles, a gymnast, won the World Comeback of the Year award for her spectacular comeback to the sport after a nearly two-year hiatus due to mental health issues.

Last year, at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Belgium, Biles—who has won World Sportswoman of the Year three times—earned four gold medals.

The Sport for Good award went to tennis player Rafael Nadal’s organization, which helps children in Spain and India; Diede de Groot was named World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.

Last year, the Dutch wheelchair tennis player achieved an unprecedented triple crown in the calendar year.

The World Action Sportsperson of the Year title went to Australian skateboarder Arisa Trew, who is 14 years old.

A panel of 69 former athletes that make up the Laureus Academy has been giving out the awards every year since 2000.