Madrid, Spain The Argentine World Cup champion Paulo Dybala was named a Laureus Ambassador today. The 31-year-old will attend the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday after beginning his new job with a visit to a Laureus Sport for Good program in Rome.

Dybala won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina and five Serie A championships with Juventus. On Wednesday, the Argentine player, who now plays for AS Roma, paid a visit to Calcio Insieme, a Rome-based initiative funded by the AS Roma Foundation that utilizes football to assist kids with intellectual impairments. The new Laureus Ambassador was met by around thirty children and young adults.

According to the Laureus Sports news release, Paulo Dybala said, “Being an Ambassador for Laureus is a great honor. My visit to Calcio Insieme was a wonderful opportunity to witness’sport for good’ in action, and I have been inspired by the amazing job they do. I am excited to attend a special 25th anniversary Laureus Awards in Madrid among many athletic great, as the Laureus objective to utilize sport as a tool for social change is motivating.”

Spanish athletic icon Rafael Nadal will be among the many victors who will accompany Dybala at this year’s Awards ceremony. After winning two gold medals in the Olympics, 22 Grand Slams (including 14 French Open championships), and 81 straight clay-court matches without a loss, Rafael Nadal ended his remarkable career in 2024. The only athlete to win Breakthrough of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, and the Laureus Sport for Good Award, Rafael Nadal has also accomplished the “Laureus Slam.”

Ski star Lindsey Vonn, who took home the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award eight years after winning the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2011, will host this year’s event. Vonn, who hosted the virtual Awards in Seville in 2022, made a bold return in December at the age of 40. Last month, she finished on the podium for the first time in the World Cup in Idaho.

“It is a huge thrill to host the Awards again,” said Vonn, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, which consists of 69 athletic giants whose votes select the winners of the Awards. Three years ago, I had a great virtual experience in Seville, but this time, with everyone there, it will be much more memorable. I’ve experienced both sides of the debate; fortunately, I know what it’s like to vote and to get a Laureus prize. This viewpoint increases my admiration for Laureus. I’m excited to see everyone in Madrid! “Vamos!”

Sports enthusiasts from the entertainment, fashion, and film sectors will join the Academy Members, Laureus Ambassadors, and Nominees. Attendees include:

Mondo Duplantis, Edwin Moses, Letsile Tebogo, Tegla Loroupe, Nawal El Moutawakel, and Tanni Grey-Thompson

Basketball: Fernandez, Rudy

Steve Waugh in cricket

Cycling: Chris Hoy and Mark Cavendish

Luis de la Fuente, Luis Figo, Paulo Dybala, Ruud Gullit, Robin Le Normand, Rafael Louzan, Thiago Alcantara, Kosovare Asllani, Cafu, Fabio Capello, Fernando Carro, Iker Casillas, and Paulo Dybala

Gymnastics: Li Xiaopeng, Nadia Comaneci, Simone Biles, and Rebeca Andrade

Luciana Aymar in hockey

Saul Craviotto kayaking

Motor Racing: Emerson Fittipaldi, Zak Brown,

Matt Stutzman, para-archerman

Qu Zi Mo para badminton

Fencing para: Bebe Vio

Jiang Yuyan, Teresa Perales, and Daniel Dias paraswimming

Steve Redgrave is rowing.

Hugo Porta, Bryan Habana, and Sean Fitzpatrick (Laureus Academy Chairman) in rugby

Lindsey Vonn, Maria Hofl-Riesch, Eileen Gu, and Lara Gut-Behrami ski

Nicol David in squash

Kelly Slater surfs

Ariarne Titmus swimming

Tennis players: Rafael Nadal, Jasmine Paolini, Aryna Sabalenka, Boris Becker, Belinda Bencic, Novak Djokovic, Garbine Muguruza, Carlos Alcaraz, Paula Badosa, Mansour Bahrami, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Donna Vekic

Naish Robby windsurfing.