Luke Littler set to face his sports hero Lando Norris at 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards for the prestigious “Breakthrough of the Year” award

Luke Littler (via Getty Images)

Luke Littler will go head-to-head with his sports idol, Lando Norris, at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards next month. The 19-year-old darts sensation has been shortlisted for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award after a stunning 2025 season. It is a huge achievement for the Warrington teenager, who is only in his second year as a professional player but has already become one of the biggest names in world darts. Littler’s nomination puts him alongside Formula One world champion Lando Norris and other global stars. The ceremony will take place at the Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20. It will be the 25th edition of the prestigious awards. The event comes just days before Littler’s scheduled appearance in Premier League Darts in Liverpool, adding more excitement to an already special month for the young English star.

Luke Littler and Lando Norris lead Breakthrough of the Year Award race

Luke Littler enjoyed an incredible 12 months on the oche. He lifted six televised major titles in 2025. Among them was his first World Championship crown. He later defended the Sid Waddell Trophy in January 2026. That victory confirmed his place as the world No.1 in darts. It marked one of the fastest rises in the sport’s history. Now he faces tough competition in the Breakthrough category at the Laureus World Sports Awards. Lando Norris is also nominated after winning the 2025 Formula One World Championship. Norris secured seven Grand Prix victories, including famous wins in Monaco and Silverstone. He clinched the title after a dramatic final-race battle with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Other nominees include France and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Desire Doue, Brazilian tennis talent Joao Fonseca, Canadian NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and 12-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi. Littler, who is a huge Formula One fan, earlier spoke about sharing success with Norris and other sporting figures. He said he follows many sports and loves seeing big winners across different competitions. He mentioned Norris winning the F1 title, Angry Ginge succeeding on television, and himself lifting the world darts title as moments that felt like a dream come true. Speaking about his nomination to The Sun, Littler described it as a massive honour. He said being the first darts player recognised in this category makes it even more special. He added that the past year has been incredible, with becoming a double world champion and world No.1 feeling like a dream. However, he stressed that he does not want to stop here. He aims to grow the sport worldwide and attract new fans. He called the nomination an important moment for both himself and darts. Winners will be decided by the Laureus World Sports Academy members and announced at the ceremony in Madrid. The awards were first held in 2000 in Monaco under the patronage of Nelson Mandela.

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