In addition to honouring athletes and coaches nominated by the national sporting federations within Portugal, awards determined in-part by public voting are also presented.
Contenders for the five awards subject to a public vote are first nominated by the national federation of the sport in which the athlete competes.
[3] Federations are limited to forwarding just one candidate to be evaluated for each award; the choice of which can therefore attract media comment and criticism.
In 2008 the sports newspaper Record noted the continued absence of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo from the shortlist for Sportsman of the Year, after the Portuguese Football Federation instead nominated Fernando Couto in deference to the CDP's chosen theme for 2008 of Amor à Camisola (Love of the Jersey).
The below table lists the total number of Sportsperson of the Year awards won by the winners' sporting profession.