Chemistry Tested - Laureus World Team of the Year Nominees
The Nominees for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award prove that it takes more than stars to win a championship.
‘Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work’ - Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi knew a thing or two about team chemistry and the primacy of the collective over the individual, regardless of the superstars on any roster. And the coach whose name adorns the Super Bowl trophy would have recognised the common themes that bind each of our Nominees for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award. For each of them, individual talent was not a commodity in short supply. However, their success and the impact they had on their sporting world came down to the alchemy that Lombardi was talking about.
Just like the Dream Team of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the USA Basketball Men's National Team was packed with icons of the NBA for whom gold was the only acceptable outcome. And across the tournament, the biggest names in the game delivered.
LeBron James was named MVP and when the final against host nation France lay in the balance, it was Steph Curry who provided the coup de grâce. With the clock ticking down in the final quarter, France had drawn to within three points. And Curry, as he has done more than anyone in the history of the NBA, shot a three-pointer to make the score 85-79 and followed up with three more as Team USA claimed a fifth straight Olympic gold.
If that team had found a way to stay hot, for others it was a case of finding their way back in from the cold.
The last time that the UK-based McLaren Formula 1 Team won the World Constructors’ Championship was back in 1998, when David Coulthard and Laureus Academy Member Mika Häkkinen and were behind the wheel.
Throughout 2024 both Lando Norris and Australian team-mate Oscar Piastri scored points consistently and, in a thrilling conclusion, the British driver won the final race in Abu Dhabi to secure the championship for the team, beating Ferrari by 666 pts to 652 to end the longest-ever wait between titles for a constructor.
If the men in the cars and in the pit lane were integral, so too was Team Principal Andrea Stella, who took over ahead of the 2023 season and drove the revival, part of the restructuring of the team, led by visionary chief executive Zak Brown.
But as McLaren were getting themselves back into top gear, others were accelerating away from the pack as they set fresh standards and broke their own records.
LeBron James was named MVP and when the final against host nation France lay in the balance, it was Steph Curry who provided the coup de grâce. With the clock ticking down in the final quarter, France had drawn to within three points. And Curry, as he has done more than anyone in the history of the NBA, shot a three-pointer to make the score 85-79 and followed up with three more as Team USA claimed a fifth straight Olympic gold.
If that team had found a way to stay hot, for others it was a case of finding their way back in from the cold.
The last time that the UK-based McLaren Formula 1 Team won the World Constructors’ Championship was back in 1998, when David Coulthard and Laureus Academy Member Mika Häkkinen and were behind the wheel.
Throughout 2024 both Lando Norris and Australian team-mate Oscar Piastri scored points consistently and, in a thrilling conclusion, the British driver won the final race in Abu Dhabi to secure the championship for the team, beating Ferrari by 666 pts to 652 to end the longest-ever wait between titles for a constructor.
If the men in the cars and in the pit lane were integral, so too was Team Principal Andrea Stella, who took over ahead of the 2023 season and drove the revival, part of the restructuring of the team, led by visionary chief executive Zak Brown.
But as McLaren were getting themselves back into top gear, others were accelerating away from the pack as they set fresh standards and broke their own records.
Real Madrid continued to add to the most extensive trophy collection in club football. Nobody has won the Champions League more often and they moved further ahead on that score with a 15th victory in the 2024 final against Borussia Dortmund. It was also a landmark moment for Club President and guiding light, Florentino Perez and Real’s manager Carlo Ancelotti, who claimed the trophy for a fifth time (the most of any manager). Four of their players – Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić and Nacho – equalled Paco Gento’s record of six European Cup titles in the process. Gento, of course, also won all six of his for Madrid. Ancelotti’s team also won La Liga for a 36th time – another record – and the Supercopa de España.
Spanish football’s successes did not end there. The Spain Men’s Football Team became the most successful team in European Championship history with a record fourth win in the tournament, having previously won in 1964, 2008 and 2012. Under coach Luis de la Fuente, the team dominated the event from start to finish, winning all seven games, without needing penalties: a feat never achieved before.
They had the talent – Rodri was named player of the tournament, Lamine Yamal was the young player of the tournament and Dani Olmo shared the Golden Boot – but they also had teamwork, and they needed it to beat every other European nation to have won a World Cup: Italy, Germany, France and England.
Spanish football’s successes did not end there. The Spain Men’s Football Team became the most successful team in European Championship history with a record fourth win in the tournament, having previously won in 1964, 2008 and 2012. Under coach Luis de la Fuente, the team dominated the event from start to finish, winning all seven games, without needing penalties: a feat never achieved before.
They had the talent – Rodri was named player of the tournament, Lamine Yamal was the young player of the tournament and Dani Olmo shared the Golden Boot – but they also had teamwork, and they needed it to beat every other European nation to have won a World Cup: Italy, Germany, France and England.
FC Barcelona Women’s Team were the dominant side in Spain and Europe, winning their second consecutive Champions League title and their third in the last four years, a fifth consecutive Liga F title and the Copa de la Reina. Aitana Bonmatí, last year’s Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, won a second Ballon d’Or, was named the player of the match in the Champions League final and scored one of Barcelona’s goals in that 2-0 win over Lyon. The other came from Alexia Putellas, who preceded Bonmatí as winner of the Ballon d’Or.
Back to the USA and the basketball court, the Boston Celtics gave one of the NBA’s biggest teams a new set of heroes, while advancing its legacy to new heights.
The Celtics finished the 2023–24 regular season with a 64-18 record, the best in the NBA, then in the play-offs they defeated Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers on their way to the finals, dropping only three games in the process.
Then, in Game Five of the finals, they beat the Dallas Mavericks to claim a record 18th NBA title, one more than their old rivals LA Lakers. Jaylen Brown was awarded the MVP trophy, while Joe Mazzulla became the youngest head coach, at 35 years 353 days, to win the NBA Finals since 1969.
All our Nominees proved that it takes more than talent to win championships. And teams such as these deliver more than mere championships. Through that unique alchemy that only team sport can produce, they gave us memories, magic and inspiration that lasts long after the trophy has been lifted.
Back to the USA and the basketball court, the Boston Celtics gave one of the NBA’s biggest teams a new set of heroes, while advancing its legacy to new heights.
The Celtics finished the 2023–24 regular season with a 64-18 record, the best in the NBA, then in the play-offs they defeated Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers on their way to the finals, dropping only three games in the process.
Then, in Game Five of the finals, they beat the Dallas Mavericks to claim a record 18th NBA title, one more than their old rivals LA Lakers. Jaylen Brown was awarded the MVP trophy, while Joe Mazzulla became the youngest head coach, at 35 years 353 days, to win the NBA Finals since 1969.
All our Nominees proved that it takes more than talent to win championships. And teams such as these deliver more than mere championships. Through that unique alchemy that only team sport can produce, they gave us memories, magic and inspiration that lasts long after the trophy has been lifted.
