Rafael Nadal beat Lionel Messi to be voted the athlete of the decade in a poll run by Spanish daily newspaper Marca.
Marca readers voted in huge numbers – with almost 160,000 votes being counted – and Rafa took 62 percent of the vote to Messi’s 38 percent.
The tennis star had beaten Eliud Kipchoge, then Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarter-finals before long-standing rival Roger Federer in the semi-finals to face Messi in the final of the competition to work out the top sportsperson of the decade.
The last 10 years have been impressive for our champ, winning practically everything on offer this decade. He lifted eight Roland Garros titles, four US Opens, Wimbledon, an Olympic gold medal, two Davis Cups and a host of other tournaments too.
Source: marca.com
Most fun athlete to watch and follow through extraordinary successes. Thank you Rafa for continuing to work so hard and remain the kind and gentle spirit you were as you entered this arena. You are super ambassador for this sport.
I haven’t done any research but as of January 1, 2020, Rafa could be the ONLY male tennis champion who made world No. 1 in THREE different decades, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.
A lot of back and forth on the Internet about when a decade actually starts. Hhmmmm
The accolades just keep coming. Well done Rafa. You’ve earned every one of them.
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PRECIOUS HEROIC ATHLETIC OF THE DECADE TOP HONOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU DEAR RAFA NADAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) BEAUTIFUL! SOLID…. IMPRESSIVE …. WELL EARNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART ON YOUR WORLDLY STARDOM AND SUCCESS AS A BRILLIANT GOAT AND AS A GENIUS SPORTSMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP ENJOYING EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) WE DELIGHT IN ALL YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND HONOR YOUR EFFORTS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL NEW YEAR AND LOTS OF FUN GLIDING AND SLIDING AND ENJOYING YOUR MAGICAL BEAUTIFUL TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Well deserved…again<3
I have watched you for years and I would say best athlete of the decade -world wide- is concisely what you are! My daughter played tennis in HS. Congratulations Rafa!
Sabrina
Congratulations on this latest award-athlete of the decade. Your hard work and dedication is recognized at long last. We are so proud of your accomplishments, but even prouder that you remain
the same person with an incredible work ethic, and the constant desire to improve. Your respect for
the sport, your opponents, your team, and your family have been evident throughout your career, and
it is inspiring. 2019 is a stellar year; all the best in 2020 and the future.⭐️👏🤛💪👍🏆👑🙏🎾❤️
Seize 2020, Rafa! See you in Melbourne!❤️
Congratulations !
💐🍰🌹🍹😘❤️
Wait 8 RG? I think 11? No?
I believe they only count the titles between 2010 till 2019, so he actually won 8 RG 😊
Pete, Rafa has 12 RG trophies but only 8 in this decade.
Rightly so. Best. atheletw of the decade , that’s our Rafa, and a great human being as well. Vamos 💪💪💪
Well deserved Rafa you are the best human being I’m watching you at 16 years old I’m the biggest fan of you ,lm a tennis player too I love the game .👍🇺🇸❤️🎾😘👍🇺🇸❤️🎾😘🎾😘👍🇺🇸❤️🎾😘❤️😘
Marca doesn’t like Barcelona, so I’m amazed they even put Messi in the poll! But well done Rafa – that’s lovely. He’s had such a huge impact in Spain that I don’t think there was ever any doubt!
Well deserved to a wonderful athlete and human being.
From your #1 fan!!!
👍🏻🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇💪🏻
Not surprised! He is the one who deserves it! His athleticism is by far the most impressive but even more impressive is his humility, kindness and generosity to everyone he comes alongside his life path!!!
Congratulations Rafael!!!
👍🏻🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇💪🏻
U r d BEST, well deserved.
VAMOS RAFA
Couldn’t be prouder of my hero, whom I loved at first sight as a 16 yr old at Monte Carlo. Wonderful athlete, wonderful person and role model.