Spain scooped the World Team of the Year Award at the 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony following their victory at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, which took place in Abu Dhabi, recognise sporting achievements and winners are voted by the Laureus World Sports Academy made up of 46 sport stars.
The Spaniards defeated Holland in the Johannesburg final in July last year. Another Spanish superstar who bagged an award was world number one - Rafael Nadal. He was named World Sportman of the Year, beating the likes of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, NBA star Kobe Bryant, Spain's World Cup-winning star Andres Iniesta, Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao and F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel for the prestigious award.
Nadal won three Grand Slam events in 2010 - the French and US Open and Wimbledon. This is Nadal's second Laureus after winning the Laureus Breakthrough Award in 2006.
Meanwhile, skiing champions Lindsey Vonn was rewarded for a third straight skiing World Cup and the Olympic Downhill gold medal. Vonn overcame tennis stars Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki and athletes Blanka Vlasic of Croatia and Jessica Ennis of the United Kingdom to be named Sportswoman of the Year.
Kelly Slater was presented with the Laureus Action Sports Award for winning a record tenth World Surfing Championship. This is Slater's third Laureus Award.
French football legend Zinedine Zidane was presented with the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his remarkable career.
The winners included:
* Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Rafael Nadal
* Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Lindsey Vonn
* Laureus World Team of the Year: Spain World Cup Team
* Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Martin Kaymer
* Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Valentino Rossi
* Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Verena Bentele
* Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater
* Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Zinedine Zidane,
* Laureus Spirit of Sport Award: European Ryder Cup Team
* Laureus Sport for Good Award: May El-Khalil, founder of the Beirut Marathon
