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Darts sensation Luke 'The Nuke' Littler will battle with reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris after the pair were nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year. Paris Saint-Germain star Desire Doue is the only footballer nominated for the award that Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal won, last year.

Rory McIlroy, Lionesses icon Leah Williamson and cycling's Simon Yates have been nominated for the World Comeback of the Year in a United Kingdom-dominated field. Both the McIlroy and Williamson-inspired teams have been recognised for their achievements too, with the England women's football team and the European Ryder Cup team nominated in the World Team of the Year field, with Norris' McClaren also named in the shortlist.

The nominees for the prestigious sports award were revealed on Monday with the winners set to be announced at Madrid's Cibeles Palace on April 20.

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Littler has been recognised for achievements at Alexandra Palace, last January, when he beat Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace a matter of weeks before his 18th birthday.

The Darts superstar has gone on to dominate the sport since then but by becoming the youngest ever world champion and completing the career triple crown, after adding the World Championship to the the World Matchplay and the Premier League.

The 18-year-old said: "Being nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award is a huge honour - especially being the first darts player to get recognised on this list.

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"It's been an incredible 12 months and becoming double World Champion and World no.1 is a dream come true but I don't want to stop there - I want to continue raising the profile of darts globally and bringing new fans into the sport.

"The nomination is a big moment for me and the sport of darts as a whole."

Norris will battle it out with Littler, as well as Desire Doue, Joao Fonseca, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Yu Zidi, for the accolade of breakthrough of the year.

The Brit beat four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen to the Drivers' Championship in a dramatic win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

A winner from Great Britain would see them join an illustrious list to take home the accolade with Jude Bellingham, Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray, Jenson Button, Rebecca Adlington, Lewis Hamilton and McIlroy among previous holders.

The Northern Irishman is up for another Laureus award in April after his Masters win at Augusta. The 36-year-old held off Justin Rose to end an 11-year drought in major tournaments, picking up the green jacket for the first time.

Williamson has been nominated in the same category after winning the UEFA Women's Champions League with Arsenal before captaining England to successive European Championships success, beating Spain on penalties.

Seven years after losing a 38-minute lead, Simon Yates won the Giro d'Italia and has been nominated alongside Williamson and McIlroy in the comeback category.

They will be up against Tennis' Amanda Anisimova, who reached Wimbledon and US Open finals after stepping away to prioritise her mental health two years ago, Grand Tour stage-winner Egan Bernal who picked up his first triumph since a near-fatal crash in 2022, and Yulimar Rojas, who won bronze at the World Athletics Championships after a two-year absence due to an Achilles injury.

The England women's team are up for an award against McClaren's Formula One team and Team Europe's Ryder Cup-winners for the Team of the Year after their European Championships success.

India's women's cricket team are up for the award after winning a maiden World Cup title, recording the highest successful run chase in Women's One Day International history to beat Australia in the final.

Oklahoma City Thunder are also named in the shortlist after matching Chicago Bulls' most NBA wins in a season from the 1996/97 campaign on course to winning their first NBA championship.

PSG are also in the list of contenders for the award after their Champions League win completed a dominant year for the Ligue 1 side.

Meanwhile, UK cycling's Tom Pidcock is shortlisted for Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year after winning the European XCO title, as well as a first Grand Tour podium at the Vuelta a España.

He will be hoping to overcome Yago Dora of Brazil and the United States' Molly Picklum for their surfing achievements, as well as Killian Jornet, Chloe Kim and Rayssa Leal after success in ultra running, snowboarding and skateboarding, respectively.

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