Behold, as anticipation reaches its climax for the annual event celebrating the achievements of sporting icons. The 2024 Laureus Sportsman of the Year award is here, igniting excitement among fans worldwide. Among the nominees lie both familiar faces and intriguing newcomers, but notably absent are some of the biggest names in sports history, who are yet to savor the taste of winning this feat. From legendary soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo to basketball maestro LeBron James, today, we take a look at some of the most esteemed athletes who have never taken this prestigious award home.

Jack Nicklaus

It might come as a surprise for many in the golf fandom, but Jack Nicklaus never received a nomination. There’s Tiger Woods, who has claimed the award twice (in 2000 and 2001) and made the cut 7 times. Though there’s no questioning the ability of Mr. T, ‘The Golden Bear’ has also left an indelible mark on the history of golf.

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With 18 major championships to his name, surpassing the combined total of the iconic Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer, Nicklaus’s achievements are truly remarkable. Boasting a staggering 37 top-two finishes in majors, securing a victory in at least two PGA Tour events for 17 consecutive seasons, and whatnot; Despite these accolades, he never managed to clinch the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award.

Kobe Bryant

Fans might question the absence of Michael Jordan from here. Even we agree that MJ deserved the award. However, he bid farewell to court forever in 2003, leaving little time for him to compete for nominations. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant left a significant impact on the game and basketball culture, but that alone shouldn’t be the sole criterion.

With numerous achievements such as NBA MVP, five championships, two Finals MVP awards, 18 All-Star selections, and nine All-Defensive First Team selections, Bryant made a lasting impression until his retirement in 2016. It’s surprising to note that Bryant managed to win just as many or more titles as Larry Bird, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, and Shaquille O’Neal. Yet, forget the award win, Mamba never made the nominations too.

LeBron James

LeBron James is one of the unlucky players to get nominated often but never win the Laureus Sportsman Award. In 2004, he was first nominated for the Breakthrough Player of the Year. A decade later, he was nominated for the very first time for the Sportsman recipient, with further nominations coming in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Yet, he couldn’t break the deadlock for basketball.

 

Since his debut, James has not only lived up to the immense hype placed on his shoulders but exceeded it. It would be shortsighted not to consider his potential to claim the top spot in the basketball world once his career concludes. Not to forget the never-ending comparison he draws alongside Michael Jordan, well that is quite impressive. With James still in action, let’s see if he can bring the first-ever award for basketball.

Ronaldinho Gaucho

The guy who never lost his smile on the pitch, Ronaldinho was a different gravy in his playing days. Even in the heat of battle, the Brazilian could be found grinning from ear to ear, delighted to be on the pitch. The former FC Barcelona icon made the nominations just once in 2006 having lifted the Ballon d’Or, FIFA The Best, UEFA Champions League, and La Liga with the Catalans in the preceding year.

Not to forget his 2002 World Cup with Brazil and of course the trickery on the pitch. Ronaldinho had everything to win the award, but fate never saw that happening. Interestingly, he isn’t the only Brazilian to get nominated with Ronaldo Nazario (2002) and Kaka (2008) also making the cut, but not taking the award home.

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Cristiano Ronaldo

Well, this must be the most shocking name to be here on this list. Boasting the title of Mr. Champions League, a long-term rivalry with Lionel Messi, and proving himself across different leagues till now—Cristiano Ronaldo has done beyond imagination. Yet, the Portuguese superstar has never clinched his hands at the prestigious individual feat.

 

Notably, CR7 has made the cut for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award on five occasions (2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018). Listing all of his records here might take a day for us, but there is no denying that the 5x Ballon d’Or should have at least opened his account once. Messi, on the other hand, successfully sprinkled the salt on Ronaldo’s wounds by winning the award 2 times (2020 and 2023).

 

These are the top 5 athletes in our eyes who should have won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year. Of course, there are still many big names across all major sports that are missing from this list. However, we leave the rest of the case in your hands. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.