Lionel Messi has shared an emotional response to Rafael Nadal after the tennis star backed him to win Sportsman of the Year at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards.

The PSG forward and Spaniard are both among a list of huge names such as Formula One champion Max Verstappen, NBA superstar Steph Curry, Swedish pole vault star Mondo Duplantis and club team-mate Kylian Mbappe nominated for the honour.

Messi, who helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and his club PSG to the Ligue 1, is in contention to win the award for a second-time.

It would be Nadal’s third-time winning the award should he be successful, having won in 2011 and 2021, although he previously insisted that Messi should be the one to walk away with the trophy.

Seven-time Balloon d’Or winner Messi, however, has replied to Nadal on Instagram and insisted that he also deserves to win.

That an athlete as great as you says that about me leaves me speechless… Thank you very much, Rafa Nadal, you also deserve everything for the way you compete every time you go out on the court.

“You’re a winner, maybe we have a lot of competition there, huh? You also deserve the Laureus award this year, really.”

His response comes on the back of the Spaniard backing Messi to win the prestigious award.

Nadal initially posted on Instagram, saying: “An honour to be nominated again to the Laureus Sportsman of the year… but… this year… let’s go Messi, you deserve it.”

Messi won the Golden Ball at the World Cup, awarded to the player of the tournament, having scored seven goals and picked up a further three assists.

The 35-year-old also helped inspire PSG to the Ligue 1 title and has inspired them to the top of the table once again this campaign, proving he is a worthy candidate.

Nadal also enjoyed a dominant 2022 as he claimed four titles, including two major titles by winning both the Australian Open and French Open. The other nominees also have reason to be in contention as Verstappen defended his F1 title while Duplantis broke the pole vault world record on three occasions and won world titles indoors and out.

Basketball star Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a fourth NBA championship in eight years.

Messi’s PSG team-mate Mbappe won the Golden Boot at the World Cup while he also led Ligue 1 in both goals and assists last season.

There are seven other awards up for grabs at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards with many nominated for such honours for when the awards take place later this month.