Julien Alfred Left Behind as 17-Year-Old Soccer Prodigy Steals Spotlight With Major Laureus Sports Honor

Julien Alfred’s 2025 season has been nothing short of iconic. She shattered national records like glass ceilings and claimed Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold in the 100m with a blistering 10.78. Not stopping there, she stormed to a silver in the 200m, rewrote history in the 300m and 400m indoors, and even stunned with a stellar performance in Miramar. The résumé? Untouchable. The momentum? Relentless. Yet somehow she didn’t take home the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.

Yes, you read that right. Despite a season where she did everything but walk on water, the Laureus trophy slipped through her fingers. Fans everywhere were stunned. How could the woman who rewrote history and dominated the track from Paris to Miramar be passed over? If Julien Alfred’s season wasn’t worthy of a breakthrough, then who was this 17-year-old generational soccer talent who won?

Laureus Sport took to X, “ Lamine Yamal is the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year.” A stunning moment, sure! But also one that left track fans scratching their heads. Yes, Lamine Yamal is a prodigy. Only 17 and already weaving magic for Barcelona and Spain with 6 goals, 12 assists in La Liga, and Champions League brilliance. His rise has been swift and shiny. But while the football world celebrates, many fans can’t help but question whether the committee overlooked Julien Alfred’s history-making sprint season, choosing glitz over grit.

Lamine Yamal is the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year#Laureus25 pic.twitter.com/IvBkTEgvXl

— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 21, 2025

While Yamal danced with a ball, Julien Alfred was rewriting national records with spikes on her feet. Her 2025 debut at the Miramar Invitational wasn’t just a season opener. It was a statement. Lining up against the formidable Shericka Jackson, who held a 21.41 in the 200m and was widely expected to dominate the 300m, Alfred had something else in mind. Jackson took an early lead, but Julien?

She chased her down. Step for step, surge for surge, until the final 10 meters when Alfred powered past to claim the race in 36.05, a brand-new national record for Saint Lucia. It wasn’t a fluke. It was a pattern. A season of stunning comebacks and fearless matchups. Julien Alfred didn’t just beat champions. She became one. From 100m Olympic gold to 4x400m heroics, she proved she could sprint, stretch, and steal the spotlight on any stage.

So yes, while Yamal’s footwork lit up football, Julien’s lightning-fast strides lit a fire under the very foundation of women’s sprinting. In the eyes of track fans? She was the real breakthrough.

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