Federer claims the top prize on a big night for tennis

The 24-year-old Swiss tennis ace was honoured for winning Wimbledon and the US Open in 2005.

Croatian skier Janica Kostelic took the women's prize after an unprecedented fourth Winter Olympic gold.

But athlete Paula Radcliffe, FA Cup holders Liverpool, tennis star Andy Murray and golfer Colin Montgomerie all missed out on gongs for Britain.

Radcliffe missed out on the sportswoman title, while Murray was beaten by clay-court specialist Rafael Nadal to the best newcomer gong and Montgomerie was edged out by another tennis player, Martina Hingis, in the Comeback of the Year category.

Roger Federer is the outstanding tennis player of his generation John McEnroe on Roger Federer

Meanwhile, Formula One constructors Renault beat off competition from the likes of 2005 Champions League winners Liverpool to win the team award.

Federer heads to the French Open next week, hoping to become the first man to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time since Australia's Rod Laver in 1969.

And tennis legend John McEnroe believes the Swiss maestro has the ability to become the most successful Grand Slam player of all time.

"Roger Federer is the outstanding tennis player of his generation. In fact he is probably the outstanding individual sportsman of his generation across all sports," said McEnroe, who is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

"He has already won seven grand slams at the age of 24. I think if he keeps healthy and keeps his appetite for the game, he could break Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slams."

The ceremony also saw former Barcelona coach and Holland football star Johan Cruyff pick up a Lifetime Achievement Award.

South African wheelchair racer Ernst van Dyk, with a fifth straight win at the Boston Marathon, won the disabled sportspersons award.

Angelo d'Arrigo, the Italian hang-glider known as the "Human Condor" who was killed in an air crash in March, was posthumously given the alternative sportsperson's award.

The nominees were selected by more than 700 sports writers and editors around the world.

Winners were chosen by the 42 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.