Messi, Hamilton joint winners of Sportsman of the Year at Laureus Awards

Laureus World Sports Awards - Salle des Etoiles, Monaco - February 18, 2019 Novak Djokovic poses after winning the sportsman of the year award REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

(Reuters) - Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi were declared joint winners of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in Berlin on Monday, with the voting tied for the first time in the awards' 20-year history.

Mercedes driver Hamilton won his sixth world championship in 2019, with 11 race wins and 17 podium finishes, while Messi was crowned the world's best player for a record sixth time when he won the Ballon d'Or.