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We rank the top five international athletes around the world. The criteria used include accomplishments, popularity and name recognition, impact, earnings, sport popularity, and long-term coverage in the media. The athletes on this list come from tennis, soccer, baseball, boxing, track and field, hockey, and MMA.
Note: U.S.-based athletes are excluded from this list (i.e., Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, etc.).
Top 10 >
10. Alexander Ovechkin (Hockey)
Country of Origin: Russia
The 2009 NHL MVP earns about $12 million a year. He is a two-time league MVP and holds a lot of promise being only 24 years old. Unfortunately, Alexander Evechkin's lack of English fluency makes it difficult for him to become more popular in the American mainstream.
9. Fedor Emilianenko (MMA)
Country of Origin: Russia
Fedor Emilianenko is the World Alliance of MMA Heavyweight Champion. The 33-year old is one of the most popular fighters in an increasingly visible sport that is gaining traction with major networks. MMA is extremely appealing to the young demographic. Many pay homage to the formidable Russian-born prize fighter.
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Rankings: No. 10 - No. 6 Images >
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8. Alberto Pujols (Baseball)
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
The 30-year old is the 2009 National League MVP. Pujols along with Alex Rodriguez are chasing home run and slugging-related records. He is excelling in a sport that is fairly popular, and thus earns about $18 million annually. He is one of the three best hitters in baseball. Additionally, Pujols is probably the best athlete to ever come out of the Dominican Republic.
7. Usain Bolt (Track and Field)
Country of Origin: Jamaica
The sky is the limit for the 23 year old Jamaican considered by far the world's fastest human. What Usain Bolt was able to accomplish at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was simply mind boggling. He won three gold medals at the 2009 World Championships. The fastest man in the planet shattered his Beijing world records at the 2009 world championships. The name Usain Bolt is familiar with most sports fans despite belonging to a sport that is covered by the press infrequently. At just 23, Bolt is the best athlete to ever come out of Jamaica.
6. Rafael Nadal (Tennis)
Country of Origin: Spain
The 23-year old won the 2009 Australian Open and earns over $31 million a year. He is largely known as an elite player second only to Switzerland's Roger Federer, Nadal displays tremendous energy on the court and lays everything on the line each and every game - a trait that resonates with millions of fans in a sport with hundreds of millions of followers. Nadal, at just 23, is the best athlete to ever come out of Spain.
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Rankings: Top 5 Images >
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The Top 5 >
5. Manny Pacquiao (Boxing)
Country of Origin: Philippines
Philippine national hero Manny Pacquiao, 31, is regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. He sports a record of 50 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, and is the WBO welterweight champion of the world. Pacquiao is universally regarded as the best athlete to ever come out of the Philippines. Additionally, he is regarded as the best Asian boxer of all time.
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The Filipino earned close to $40 million in 2009 and intends to run for congress in his native land in May 2010. While boxing is gaining in popularity, the sport remains a niche activity in the minds of mainstream fans, having fallen out of the top 15 American sports. A prospective fight with undefeated American Floyd Mayweather, Jr could become the biggest fight in boxing in over 30 years. Pacquiao's mythos, it is said, is rivaling Muhammad Ali's.
Photos: Manny Pacquiao training at Wild Card Gym (Feb 2010)
4. Dirk Nowitzki (Basketball)
Country of Origin: Germany
Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, 31, earned close to $30 million in 2009. Nowitzki has been a fixture as one of the NBA's elite players, and is the franchise player for the Dallas Mavericks. He is the best basketball player to come out of Germany, and one of the best German athletes ever. Dirk Nowitzki is the NBA's top international player for most of the past decade, Nowitzki continues to pursue winning a NBA championship ring. He starred in his eighth consecutive all-star game in 2009.
R e c e n t S l i d e s h o w s >
Winter Games Highlights: 18 Images >
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Detroit Auto Show: Images >
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Manny Pacquiao Training - Feb 2010: IMAGES >
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3. Maria Sharapova (Tennis)
Country of Origin: Russia
The 22-year old Russian is the most popular Eastern European athlete in the world, and earned close to $24 million in 2009. Maria Sharapova endorses for companies such as Nike, Tiffany, Canon, and Land Rover. There are more accomplished athletes on this list - Sharapova won the 2008 Australian Open. However, her beauty earns her high visibility among sports fans around the world. Sharapova recently signed a $70 million deal with Nike.
2. David Beckham (Soccer)
Country of Origin: England
David Beckham, 34, is not just one of the top international athletes of the world, he is a global cultural icon and celebrity. Along with actor Brad Pitt, Beckham is one of the most followed cultural personalities in the world. His official Facebook page attracts over two million followers. In 2008, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. The name "David Beckham" is one of the most searched names on Google and Yahoo in the decade of the 2000s. In 2009, he earned about $23 million. He is one of the few athletes in which fans do not necessarily have to watch him in a game - they follow him wherever, whenever, regardless.
1. Roger Federer (Tennis)
Country of Origin: Switzerland
The top-ranked international athlete in the world today is none other than tennis superpower Roger Federer. There is ongoing debate whether Federer or Pete Sampras is the sport's greatest player ever. A large percentage think that the Swiss is simply the greatest tennis player of all time. At 28, Federer set the record for most career Grand Slam titles in 2009. He earned close to $33 million in 2009. He won at Wimbledon to clinch the record for all-time Grand Slam titles. Federer endorses products of companies such as Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, and Gillette.
For more info: International Sports Examiner, Manny Pacquiao 24 / 7 News
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Manny Pacquiao Training - Feb 2010: IMAGES >
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International Female Athletes: IMAGES >
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Comments
Pacquiao will KO Federer in 1 round!
Mayweather will be no. 1 P4P because he will get the more prestigious belt WBC title.
C'mon... Maria Sharapova on the list where are the Williams sisters. Are you being racist? Just kidding.
where's floyd mayweather?
Base on 2009 earnings, Pacquiao bets them all. How come his just number on this list? Popularity? Manny Pacquiao is named fighter of the year, fighter of the decade. etc......
Self Serving, Nonesense Item: Lack of research material, & idiot writer
I believed Manny Pacquiao should be higher than where you rank him...he must either be no. 1 or tied with Roger Federer...Sharapova, Beckham and Nowitski not even close with regards to accomplishments...Nowitski compared to Kobe, Lebron, Wade???
I'm gonna get you out Pacroid! I'll gonna whip your punk azz
Everytime Pac had his name ranked within the Top 10 sports figures, jealous Flomos are crying out loud from the top of their voices.
I disagree with 2 and 3.
I think Micheal Jordan should have been number 1 or inside top 5.
he is well known in the united states and even more in asia.
through out the whole world
At leastPacman is in top 5
whre's everybody else?
Mga gago pala kayo ! kaya nga International Athletes ! E bakit hinahanap nyo si Michael jordan, Mayweather and Williams sisters dyan ? E puro mga amerkano yun ! ! ! Mga tanga ! pinoy pa naman kayo ! ! !
Dirk Nowitzki? ranked higher than Manny? How is he more accomplished than Manny? Achievement wise, i would Manny at par with Roger Federer.
oo!!!!!!!!! wala ang mga amerikano!!!!! wla c tiger woods, michael jordan, kobe, lebron etc......
your list are B@LLS$TT.... so as you Marv !!! better change it or the wrath of Pacnuts will befall upon you @$$HOLE !!!!!
your ranking is full of s---T, for example who is Nowitski to Kobe Bryant? AND by the way where you ranked the great Tiger Woods (i dont care about his personal life0
You're nothing but 2nd grade trying hard copy cat!
GAY&SHAME will fight also in a stadium?!WHAT!
It is very CLEAR that Pacman is the best.
read: "We rank the top five international athletes around the world..."
don't look for Kobe, Lebron, Williams sisters,... americans are not included in the discussion.
where will you put michael jordan, lebron james, kobe bryant?
@ Idiots... so Americans are not included in international selections... you are definitely Idiot !!!
Marv, you forgot Efren Reyes, the Filipino Billiard legend.The United States Billiard Media Association or USBMA recently named the Filipino pool legend Reyes as the “Player of the Decade”
banjo, hindi kasama mga amerikano dito!!!! kaya nga international athletes!!!!!
This listing sucks! Pacquiao beat Federer by a million miles in the ESPNStars Champion of Champions. He even beat Tiger Woods in the finals. Search Google for: "espnstar champion-of-champions"
what kind of list is this.. who ever made this list should be should be schooled in real sport.... FEDERER! SHARAPOVA! come on people!. we need real reporters
Pacquiao the Orangutan
the most prestigious belt is WBC DIAMOND BELT Pacquiao owns it now!!!!
I will not approve all your listings. Where is JOrdan, Tiger Woods, KObe Bryant, Michael Schumacher, Oscar Dela Hoya and Floyd Mayweather my idol. Bullshit man. I will kill you in real life. Give me your address.
was this list written during a long night of partying. cuz this was all crap
At eric ... Read the title of the article..TOP INTERNATIONAL ATHLETE. I think that excluding America. What do you think now?
YOU MEAN THAT B----tch, sharapova is better than Manny? c, mn!
Read carefully, basketball is not on the list. And the list is all about international athletes.
americans are excluded morons. this is an international list
pacman is no#1 every moment every fight shock! the worlds. be wise...
Marv, are you for real? seriously! Marv! just a simple question, 1+ 1
h0iiiiiiiii! mga b0b00000!
hey marv ... please don't try too hard writing sports articles. ESPNStar champion of champions shows Pacquiao winning the online poll.
This listing sucks! Pacquiao beat Federer by a million miles in the ESPNStars Champion of Champions. He even beat Tiger Woods in the finals. Search Google for: "espnstar champion-of-champions"
I don't know why people can't understand the term international,and just keep yaping about their american idol being excluded...duhhhhh
Self Serving, Nonesense Item: Lack of research material, & idiot writer
Pacman is the best.... thepacmanfan.blogspot.com/
This is just the writer's personal opinion based on his taste or preference and not based on the worldwide poll. FAILED.
Where the F@#K is Tiger Woods?
a lot of guys commenting here are idiots!
First they don't know how to read "international athletes" excluding americans.
Second Most people want to put manny pacquiao ahead of roger federrer or on the top spot... Wake up! mga gung gong! Boxing is not the only sport in this world!
There are other sports out there!! hellooooo!!!!
sorry fed, ur the best but, i think yao ming is more popular than you, or say christiano rhenaldo....
Everything is fake....Yodiputa nyo kag tung-a
where's mariano rivera? plus pacquiao should be number 1 man... nobody's done what he's done...
Reference? Reference? Reference? Source? Source? Source?
do you mean intl athletes that influenced USA? this list is a joke
tiger woods was above them all.
PACMAN should be the number 1....
idiot writers!!!!!!!!!
Kosang Jon, Pagpasensyahan mo na ang mga spongklong. Inuuna kasi, kumbaga, ang mga bunganga bago ang utak.
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