The nomination list for the prestigious Laureus award, often referred as the OSCAR of Sports has been revealed. FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi has made into the final five nomination for their respective category. Lionel Messi is nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award along with last year's winner Usain Bolt, four time winner Roger Federer, long distance runner Kenenisa Bekele, Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi. FC Barcelona has been nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award along with Los Angeles Lakers, New York Yankees, Germany Women's Football Team, Brawn Formula One and the South Africa Rugby Team. The nominees for Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award are Serena Williams, Federica Pellegrini, Britta Steffen, Sanya Richards and Lindsey Vonn. Current Bundesliga Champion Wolfsburg has been nominated in the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year. In 2006 FC Barcelona has won the Spirit of Sport Award.FC Barcelona Leads the Team Award
Usually the chances of a football star winning the Laureus award is very less. When pitted against individual Sportsperson , the fact that they participate in a team sport always work against them. In that scenario it is time for Laureus foundation to change the format of the award. They can have a Laures Sportman of the year in individual Sports and a Laureus Sportsman of the year in Team Sport awards. For Lionel Messi, getting into the prestigious list itself is a great honour. But the chances of winning it would be very less. Usain Bolt has not taken his foot off the pedal nor has Rossi. Federer's incredible year sound like four Grand Slam finals with two winner - but then it is lower by his standard. Bekele and Alberto Contador both can hold their fort and all these gentlemen are playing in individual sports. My prediction would be Rossi as he has not won this or Bolt.
In the Laureus Team of the Year category FC Barcelona's perfect season make them a serious contender. Don't get surprised if we win this one as in my opinion we lead the pack. But then a look at the nominees will certainly tell it is the most closest competition in recent years. A look through the previous winners give an impression that a football team definitely has an advantage. My prediction for this will be FC Barcelona. The Spirit of Sport award didn't had a winner last year, but this year may be FC Barcelona can win this one too. The fact that we have so many home grown players in our side and we play the most beautiful football in the world, plus the fact that the club spend a lot of resource in bringing joy and enlightenment into the lives of the under-privileged will also be a factor helping us.