Luke Littler has been nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, following his extraordinary success over the last 12 months. Reigning two-time World Champion Littler has enjoyed an unprecedented rise to prominence, establishing himself as the sport’s premier player courtesy of a record-breaking 2025 season. […]
Luke Littler has been nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, following his extraordinary success over the last 12 months.
Reigning two-time World Champion Littler has enjoyed an unprecedented rise to prominence, establishing himself as the sport’s premier player courtesy of a record-breaking 2025 season.
The Warrington sensation celebrated his first World Darts Championship crown in January 2025, and added a further five televised ranking titles to his haul last year to cap off a trophy-laden campaign.
Littler continued to break new ground with maiden wins at the UK Open, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, before retaining the Grand Slam of Darts title in November.
Following his Grand Slam success, Littler became the youngest player in PDC history to be crowned world number one, usurping the record previously held by Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen.
The teenage prodigy then stormed to Players Championship Finals success just weeks later, before becoming only the fourth player to win back-to-back PDC World Championship titles earlier this year.
The 19-year-old was also awarded an MBE’s in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours – alongside his great rival Luke Humphries – recognising their contribution to the sport.
Littler becomes the first darts player to be nominated for the World Youth Breakthrough of the Year Award, which places him in esteemed company.
The world number one has been shortlisted alongside France and Paris Saint-Germain winger Désiré Doué and Lando Norris, who won his first Formula One Drivers Championship in December.
The nominees also include Basketball star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Brazilian tennis prospect Joāo Fonseca and 12-year-old Yu Zidi, who won bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the World Aquatics Championships.
Previous winners of the award include Tennis icons Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Carlos Alcaraz, with Rory McIlroy one of six golfers to claim the coveted prize.
Lewis Hamilton – the winner of seven Formula One Drivers Championships – won the award in 2008, while Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal were the most recent recipients in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
The 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards will take place in Madrid on April 20, where the winner will be selected by the Laureus World Sports Academy jury.