It is semi-final time in our quest to find the Greatest sportsman in the world today after Fernando Alonso became the last person to book his place in the last eight.

Alonso won the readers' poll and finished second in the experts' poll to Muttiah Muralitharan, which saw him beat 'Murali' on a tie-break decision after the Sri Lankan cricketer had won the experts' contest.

South African rugby player Bryan Habana and young ice hockey sensation Sydney Crosby were also both eliminated.

The format for the semi-finals remains the same: we have two groups of four with your votes counting for half and the experts' results counting for the other half. In any tie-break decision the readers have the casting vote.

Only one competitor from each group will move on to our head-to-head final, which will be decided by you the readers - and you alone!

The first semi-final sees the opening four group winners do battle again: with Ronaldinho (football), Ronnie O'Sullivan (snooker), Sebastien Loeb (WRC), and Roger Federer (tennis) facing off against each other.

Then next week it will be the turn of Valentino Rossi (Moto GP), Michael Phelps (swimming), Tiger Woods (golf), and Alonso (formula one) to fight it out for that second final spot.

For a refresher course on the first four semi-finalists, click on the link below the picture - and start voting on the homepage now!

How the Group Stage went:

Group A: Ronaldinho (football) (Winner: Poll: 42%; Experts: 2nd) ; Thierry Henry (Football) (Out: Poll 37%; Experts: 4th); Robert Scheidt (Sailing) (Out: Poll: 4%; Experts: 1st) Steve Nash (Basketball) (Out: Poll 16%; Experts 3rd).

Group B: Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) (Out: Poll 56%; Experts: 4th); Ricky Ponting (Cricket) (Out: Poll 6%; Experts 1st); Dan Carter (Rugby) (Out: Poll 5%; Expert 3rd); Ronnie O'Sullivan (snooker) (Winner: Poll 34%; Experts 2nd)

Group C: Kaka (Football) (Out: Poll 56%; Experts: 3rd); Richie McCaw (Rugby) (Out: Poll 4%; Experts: 4th); Sebastien Loeb (WRC) (Winner : Poll 25%; Experts 1st); Kenenisa Bekele (Athletics) (Out: Poll 15%; Experts 3rd)

Group D: Roger Federer (tennis) (Winner : Poll 32%; Experts 1st); Floyd Mayweather (Boxing) (Out: Poll 4%; Experts: 4th); Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (Biathlon) (Out: Poll 7%; Experts: 2nd); Ivano Balic (Handball) (Out: Poll 57%; Experts: 3rd)

Group E: Lionel Messi (Football) (Out: Poll 29%; Experts 4th); Valentino Rossi (Moto GP) (Winner: Poll 43%; Experts 3rd); Tyson Gay (Athletics) (Out: Poll 5% Experts 1st); Kobe Bryant (Basketball) (Out: Poll: 23%; Experts 2nd)

Group F: Michael Phelps (swimming) (Winner: Poll 56%; Experts 1st); Thomas Morgenstern (Ski Jumping) (Out: Poll 15% Experts 3rd); Tom Brady (NFL) (Out: Poll 18% Experts 2nd); Giba (Volleyball) (Out: Poll 11% Experts 4th);

Group G: Tiger Woods (golf) (Winner: Poll 79%; Experts 1st); Jeremy Wariner (Athletics) (Out: Poll 8%; Experts 3rd); Chris Hoy (Cycling) (Out: Poll 8%; Experts 2nd); Peyton Manning (NFL) (Out: Poll 6%; Experts 4th).

Group H: Fernando Alonso (formula one) (Winner: Poll 47%; Experts 2nd); Muttiah Muralitharan (Cricket) (Out: Poll 18%; Experts 1st); Bryan Habana (Rugby) (Out: Poll 17%; Experts 4th); Sidney Crosby (NHL) (Out: Poll 17%; Experts 3rd).

It's not about how popular the sports are but more of a reflection on what each individual brings to his respective sport - in terms of domination, entertainment and longevity.

You decide!

So get voting on the home page poll right now and to help your choice, remember there is a bio of each the first four semi-final contestants available by clicking on the link under the photo.

Eurosport