Paulo Dybala, the Argentine World Cup winner, was announced as a Laureus Ambassador on Friday. The 31-year-old initiated his new role with a visit to a Laureus Sport for Good programme in Rome and will be in attendance at the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday.
Dybala won five Serie A titles with Juventus and the World Cup with Argentina in 2022.
“It is a huge honour to join Laureus as an Ambassador. I have been inspired to learn about the incredible work they do, and to see ‘sport for good’ in action during my visit to Calcio Insieme was a great experience,” Dybala said.
The Laureus mission, to use sport as a vehicle for societal change, is inspiring and I am looking forward to attending a special 25th anniversary Laureus Awards in Madrid in the company of many sporting legends.”
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Joining Dybala at this year’s Awards show will be a host of champions, including tennis legend Rafael Nadal.
Nadal brought his illustrious career to a close in 2024 after winning 22 Grand Slams, including 14 French Open titles, two Olympic gold medals and 81 consecutive matches unbeaten on clay.
Nadal has also completed a ‘Laureus Slam’ as the only athlete to win Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Sportsman of the Year and the Laureus Sport for Good Award.
This year’s event will be hosted by ski legend Lindsey Vonn, who won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2011 and picked up the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award eight years later.
Vonn, who hosted the virtual Awards in Seville in 2022, launched a daring comeback in December at the age of 40 and secured her first World Cup podium finish in Idaho last month.
“I’ve been on both sides of the coin, thankfully. I know what it’s like to win a Laureus award, and I also know what it’s like to vote,” Vonn, a Member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the 69 sporting legends whose votes determine the winners, said.
“Having this perspective makes me appreciate how special Laureus is even more. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Madrid! Vamos!”
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com