Following is a list of the top 10 international athletes for the year of 2006 selected by Xinhua News Agency:

1. Liu Xiang (athletics, China)

Set the 110m hurdles world record of 12.88 seconds and swept most of the event he entered in 2006.

2. Fabio Cannavaro (soccer, Italy)

Led Italy to the World Cup title and swept the year's most important awards including the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year.

3. Roger Federer (tennis, Switzerland)

Recorded 92 wins against five losses in the year and swept 12 titles including three Grand Slam ones.

4. Michael Phelps (swimming, U.S.)

Won five golds, shattered the men's 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley world records and led the United States to a new world mark in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Pan Pacific championships.

5. Fernando Alonso (F1, Spain)

Got a second straight Formula One title in a thrilling duel with German legend Michael Schumacher.

6. Pau Gasol (basketball, Spain)

MVP in the world basketball championship, which was won by Spain.

7. Cindy Klassen (speed skating, Canada)

Won five medals including a gold at the Turin Olympics, set world records at 1,000 and 3,000 meters, took the overall title at the world all-around championships and won the World Cup overall title in the 3,000.

8. Dwyane Wade (basketball, U.S.)

Led Miami Heat to the NBA crown, MVP for the NBA finals.

9. Asafa Powell (athletics, Jamaica)

Won seven men's 100m races and was voted the athlete of the year by the world track and field body IAAF.

10. Yang Wei (gymnastics, China)

Claimed three golds in the world championships and four in the Asian Games.

Source: Xinhua