Lionel Messi has been short-listed for the Laureus Awards, considered sport’s equivalent of the Oscars. The ceremony will be held in Barcelona for the first time on May 22.

Messi has been nominated as one of sport’s rising stars, along with tennis player Rafa Nadal, golfer Paula Creamer, tennis player Andrew Murray, driver Danica Patrick and American footballer Ben Roethlisberger.

Lionel’s teammate Ronaldinho is one of the nominees for best sportsman of the year, along with Formula One driver Fernando Alonso, cyclist Lance Armstrong, tennis player Roger Federer, motorcyclist GP Valentino Rossi and golfer Tiger Woods.

Also, FC Barcelona as a club has been nominated as team of the year along with Liverpool (Champions League winners), Croatia (Davis Cup winners), New Zealand’s rugby team, Renault (formula one constructers champions) and San Antonio Spurs (NBA winners).

Via | fcbarcelona.com