BEIJING, Dec. 30 -- Following are the top 10 world athletes in the year of 2014 selected by Xinhua News Agency:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer, Portugal)

Set up new scoring record in single season in 2013-14 Champions League by striking 17 times and helped Real Madrid win the 10th Champions League title.

2. Lionel Messi (soccer, Argentina)

Broke two historic records to become the top goalscorer in both the history of Spanish La Liga and the Champions League at just 27 years of age -- having scored 253 goals in 289 games to pass Telmo Zarra's 59-year record mark in La Liga and scored 74 Champions League goals to pass Real Madrid legend Raul; also led Argentina to runner-up finish in the Brazil World Cup.

3. Novak Djokovic (tennis, Serbia)

Ranked world number one for the third time; also claimed Wimbledon and four Masters titles.

4. Katinka Hosszu (swimming, Hungary)

Named the Best Female Swimmer of the Year by FINA, won 51 gold medals at FINA World Cup series in 2014, also broke five world records.

5. Renaud Lavillenie (athletics, France)

First pole vaulter to become the Best Male Athlete of the Year named by IAAF, set a new world indoor record in men's pole vault of 6.16m.

6. Victor An (speed skating, Russia)

A former South Korean who represented Russia in the Sochi Olympics, won the men's 500m and 1,000m short track events and helped the host team to the 5,000m relay crown, bringing his Olympic tally to a record six golds in the sport.

7. Lewis Hamilton (F1, Britain)

Won his second F1 world championship after claiming 11 Grand Prix titles this season.

8. Kohei Uchimura (gymnastics, Japan)

Won his fifth straight men's all-around title at the world championships, the first ever gymnast to achieve the feat.

9. Ding Junhui (snooker, China)

First Asian player to be ranked world number one, won German Masters and China Open titles.

10. Valerie Adams (athletics, New Zealand)

Named the Best Female Athlete of the Year by IAAF, defended her shot put title at the world indoor championships, won at the Commonwealth Games and won all seven titles at the IAAF Diamond League series.