It is the 27th year of the award, jointly awarded with NBC Sports and USA Today, and voting opened today.

Beckham helped the Galaxy to win the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup in November, and had his best season in the US since moving to the West Coast in 2007, though he seems likely to leave the league in the coming months.

Also figuring prominently is tennis world number one Novak Djokovic, who enjoyed a superb 2011 claiming the Australian Open, the US Open and Wimbledon, as well as going 43 matches unbeaten until a defeat in the French Open semi-final to Roger Federer.


Canada's Patrick Chan (pictured), the 2011 world figure skating champion, Grenadian teenage sprinting star Kirani James, who beat America's Olympic 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt to gold at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu are also both in the running.

Ryan Lochte's superb 200m freestyle success at the World Swimming Championships wins him a place, whilst Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who won the US Open with a record breaking eight shot victory this year, is also recognised.

Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai, who set a course record in the New York marathon earlier this year, is also on the list, along with Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, the most valuable player in the NBA finals, as is WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

American football star Aaron Rodgers, currently on course for the best season by a quarterback in history, features on the list with gymnast Kohei Uchimura, the first male to win all three world all around titles, and the 2011 Most Valuable Player of the year in the American Baseball League, Justin Verlander.

In the women's award, Russia's Tatyana Chernova, the heptathlete who took Jessica Ennis' world crown in Daegu earlier this year, is a strong contender to claim the award.

Also in the running is America's Carmelita Jeter, who won the 100m world title in Daegu, and college track and field star English Gardner, who broke a junior record in the 100m at the Pacific Conference Championships.


Belgium's Kim Clijsters (pictured), who won the Australian Open final in January, is in contention, as is the woman she beat in that game, China's Li Na, who claimed the French Open title, becoming the first Chinese woman to win a grand slam.

Italy's orld 400m freestyle swimming champion Federica Pellegrini, the Most Valuable Player in the women's NBA this year, American Seimone Augustus, and Japan's figure skating world champion Miki Ando are all in the running for the prestigious award.

Completing the list are Tawain's Yani Tseng, the youngest female golfer ever to win five majors, American downhill skiing world champion Lindsey Vonn, America's world all around gymnastics champion Jordyn Wieber and British triathlete and four time ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington.

Sports fans across the world can vote online here, with the ballot open until Christmas Eve, and the announcement of the winners will be made on Christmas Day.

Last year's winners were Barcelona and Spain star David Villa and South Korean figure skater Yuna Kim.

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