Some of the biggest names in world sport, including world No.1 Rafa Nadal, have descended upon Abu Dhabi as the build-up to the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony gathers momentum. The stars will come together for a lavish ceremony at the Emirates Palace hotel this evening, when the winners of the Cartier-designed Laureus statuettes are announced.

The winners, representing the following categories: World sportsman and sportswoman of the year; world team; breakthrough; comeback of the year; world sportsman of the year with a disability; and world action sportsperson, will be chosen by an elite panel of 46 Laureus Academy members.

After enjoying the best season in his career so far, Rafa Nadal is one of the top contenders for the ‘Sportsman of the Year Award’ alongside Lionel Messi, who continues to mesmerize everyone with his skills, the youngest-ever Formula One World champion, Sebastian Vettel, Spain's Andres Iniesta, scorer of the goal that gave his country its first-ever World Cup, Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Philippines boxer Manny Pacquaio.

The world No.1 , who became the first man since 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year and who had clinched the Newcomer Award in 2006, will be hoping to win his second Laureus award.

NOMINEES

Sportman of the year
•Kobe Bryant (USA) Basketball
•Andres Iniesta (Spain) Football
•Lionel Messi (Argentina) Football
•Rafael Nadal (Spain) Tennis
•Manny Pacquaio (The Philippines) Boxing
•Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Motor racing

Sportswoman of the year
•Kim Clijsters (Belgium) Tennis
•Jessica Ennis (Great Britain) Athletics
•Blanka Vlasic (Croatia) Athletics
•Lindsey Vonn (USA) Alpine Skiing
•Serena Williams (USA) Tennis
•Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) Tennis

Team of the year
•All Blacks (New Zealand) Rugby
•European Ryder Cup Team (Europe) Golf
•Inter Milan (Italy) Football
•LA Lakers (USA) Basketball
•Red Bull F1 (Austria) Motor Racing
•Spain World Cup side (Spain) Football

Breakthrough of the year
•Martin Kaymer (Germany) Golf
•Christophe LeMaitre (France) Athletics
•Matteo Manaserro (Italy) Golf
•Thomas Muller (Germany) Football
•Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) Golf
•Teddy Tamgho (France) Athletics

Comeback of the year
•Paula Creamer (USA) Golf
•Tyson Gay (USA) Athletics
•Justine Henin (Belgium) Tennis
•Carolina Kluft (Sweden) Athletics
•Merlene Ottey (Slovenia) Athletics
•Valentino Rossi (Italy) Motor Cycling

Sportsperson of year with disability
•Verena Bentele (Germany) Skiing/Biathlon
•Matt Cowdrey (Australia) Swimming
•Daniel Dias (Brazil) Swimming
•Jakub Krako (Slovenia) Skiing
•Esther Vergeer (Holland) Wheelchair Tennis
•Lauren Woolstencroft (Canada) Skiing

Action sportsperson of the year
•Jamie Bestwick (Great Britain) BMX
•Victor Fernandez (Spain) Windsurfing
•Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) Surfing
•Levi Sherwood (New Zealand) Freestyle Moto-Cross
•Kelly Slater (USA) Surfing
•Shaun White (USA) Snowboarding

Vamos Rafa!