Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic nominated for 2016 Laureus awards

New Delhi: The nominations for the 2016 Laureus World Sports Awards were revealed on Wednesday. Considered as the Oscars of sports, the list featured some of the greatest names in sports.

Barcelona's Argentine magician Lionel Messi, multiple World and Olympic champion from Jamaica Usain Bolt, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic will vie for the prestigious Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award. The trio is joined by Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, Golden State Warriors' basketball sensation Stephen Curry and golf's world No.1 Jordan Spieth.

American tennis legend Serena Williams, who missed a historic Grand Slam last year, is again nominated for the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award – her record 10th nomination.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team is nominated for the second straight year for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award, along with Rugby World Cup champions the All Blacks, Champions League winners FC Barcelona, NBA champions Golden State Warriors, the Great Britain Davis Cup Team and the US Women's Football Team, who won their third World Cup.

Bolt is a three-time winner, while Djokovic is last year's winner. He had previously won it in 2012. But five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi is yet to lift this golden-man trophy.

The annual awards have honored remarkable achievements in sports since 2000 in five categories – Sportsman, Sportswoman, Team, Comeback and Breakthrough of the year awards.

But, there are also two special categories – Action Sportsperson of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.