Marca announces the 2025 Best Athletes: Alcaraz and Sabalenka honored with top awards

The authoritative Spanish sports media outlet, Marca, has revealed the winners of the 2025 Best Athlete awards. In the highly anticipated category of Spain’s Best Athlete, the 22-year-old tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz outshone all competitors to be named Athlete of the Year. Meanwhile, in the International Best Female Athlete category, Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka also stood out to claim this prestigious honor.

Alcaraz maintained his unstoppable momentum throughout 2025, solidifying his position as a world tennis leader with breathtaking performances. The young player from Murcia captured eight tournament titles over the past year, including two Grand Slam victories, and demonstrated dominance across several Masters events.

In this award, Alcaraz received more votes than MotoGP legend Marc Márquez and 2020 Tokyo Olympic climbing champion Alberto Ginés, reflecting fans’ strong recognition of the tennis rising star. Márquez had an outstanding 2025 MotoGP season with multiple podium finishes, while Ginés maintained excellent form in the Climbing World Cup series. However, Alcaraz’s global achievements and influence ultimately won the hearts of fans worldwide.

In the International Female Athlete category, current world number one Sabalenka earned the title of Best Female Athlete of the Year thanks to her consistent performance and multiple key tournament wins during the 2025 season. She outpaced Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh and Kenyan long-distance running star Beatrice Chebet in the voting.

During the 2025 season, Sabalenka showcased powerful serving and aggressive play, remaining highly competitive in Grand Slam events and delivering an impressive showing at the year-end finals. Her selection highlights tennis’s ongoing global impact in sports and confirms her status as a leading figure in women’s tennis today.

McIntosh emerged as a swimming prodigy by breaking several world records at the 2025 World Swimming Championships, while Chebet demonstrated her dominance in long-distance running at the World Athletics Championships. Their outstanding performances made the competition for this award particularly fierce.

The Marca Best Athlete awards, established in 1975, have become one of the most prestigious and influential honors in Spanish sports. The selection process not only considers athletic achievements but also evaluates the athlete’s embodiment of sportsmanship, social impact, and inspiration to younger generations.

The jury stated: “The 2025 awards reflect the diversity and excellence of global sports competition. Alcaraz represents a new generation of Spanish sports leaders, whose skills, mental strength, and professionalism are commendable. Sabalenka exemplifies the vigorous growth of women’s sports worldwide.”

Following the announcement, the Spanish sports community widely congratulated the winners. Many commentators noted that these athletes’ performances in 2025 not only enhanced their own careers but also delivered countless thrilling moments for sports fans across the globe.

As the 2026 sporting season approaches, these elite athletes will continue to captivate audiences worldwide, while Marca’s annual awards will keep documenting the spectacular moments and timeless legends of the sports world.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei)