Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah 'is an even better person than he is a player'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that his star striker Mohamed Salah “is an even better person than he is a player” as Salah scooped the Sporting Inspiration prize at the Laureus World Sports awards.

Salah was honoured for his wide-ranging charity work, which includes multiple projects in his Egyptian home town of Nagrig, and has also been a leading supporter of women’s equality in the Middle-East – all of which also contributed to his recent selection as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.

“When you think of Mo Salah, you think about an outstanding footballer and a great goalscorer,” said Klopp. “What you may not see is what kind of a good person he is. If I tell you he is an even better person than he is a player, then you may be able to imagine what kind of guy he is. This is well deserved.”

Overall, the awards delivered another strong showing for tennis, which has now contributed the Laureus sportsman of the year ten times in the last 16 years. It was Rafael Nadal’s turn this year, in recognition of the 2020 French Open victory which carried him level with Roger Federer’s tally of 20 grand-slam victories. (Federer still tops the Laureus tables, having won the main title five times.)

Meanwhile, Japan’s tennis icon Naomi Osaka was named Laureus sportswoman of the year, an award that Serena Williams has collected a record four times. Her capture of the US Open title was part of the citation, but even more important was the way she used that tournament to make a point about police violence. Osaka wore a different mask onto the court in each round, every one of them emblazoned with the name of a different black victim.

“I think it is important to use my voice,” Osaka said, “because for me I feel like I often hold back a lot and worry about what people think of me. But you know if you have a platform it is very important you use it.”

Lewis Hamilton was named athlete advocate of the year, also in recognition of his political stance. “The global rising to address the longstanding issue of systemic racism and inequality in our society has been monumental,” said Hamilton in his acceptance message, “but we must continue to fight.”

Finally Chris Nikic, the first person with Down’s Syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon, received the award for moment of the year.

Laureus World Sports Awards winners in full

• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award: Rafael Nadal

• Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Naomi Osaka

• Laureus World Team of the Year Award: Bayern Munich

• Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Patrick Mahomes

• Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award: Max Parrot

• Laureus Sport for Good Award: KICKFORMORE by KICKFAIR

• Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Billie Jean King

• Laureus Athlete Advocate of the Year Award: Lewis Hamilton

• Laureus Sporting Inspiration Award: Mohamed Salah

• Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year Award: Chris Nikic