Dan Carter has won the Comeback of the Year award at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Berlin, Germany.
The first five-eighth was honoured for his efforts in helping the All Blacks win the 2015 Rugby World Cup following the disappointment of going out injured in the 2011 tournament.
The 33-year-old took home the award ahead of swimmer Michael Phelps, skier Lindsay Vonn, surfer Mich Fanning, runner David Rudisha, and heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill.
Carter joins sailor Sir Peter Blake and freestyle motocross rider Levi Sherwood as the other New Zealanders to have won a Laureus Award.
The All Blacks are again in the running for the team of the year.
They have made the shortlist five times previously at the annual global awards which began in 2000 but have failed each time to land the team prize.
Richie McCaw's team must overcome a strong field, comprising the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, the Mercedes Formula One team, the Great Britain Davis Cup tennis team and two football juggernauts - European club giants Barcelona and women's world champions the United States.
Newshub.
