DUBAI HOSTS THE 13TH EDITION OF THE GLOBAL SOCCER AWARDS
At the beautiful heritage Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, the prestigious 13th edition of the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards honored the international footballers and professionals from across the world for their talent and hard work over the past year, alongside legends who have been integral to the success of the game for many years, the sport’s exceptional achievers in 16 categories, showcased once again the importance of Dubai as the Middle Eastern Capital of the global football industry.
The winners of the 13th edition of the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards was crowned by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC). Also present during the awards ceremony were His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the DSC; His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the DSC; and other senior officials from government and sports bodies.
Mohamed Salah was awarded the TIK TOK FANS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Awarded by: His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council
Mohamed Salah was awarded the BEST ARAB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Awarded by: Gianni Infantino
Considered an extraordinary player and not by chance called the Messi of Egypt due to his dribbling and his peerless left foot, Salah is making a name for himself in European football at increasingly high levels. Today Salah plays for the Italian club AS Roma, which once again, following the experience with Mido and Benatia, is making a name for itself in taking on players from the Arab world such as Salah and El Shaarawy.
The votes of over a million fans give the prize to the Egyptian winger in the year of two defeats in the finals of the Champions Leagues and the African Cup. This is proof that in terms of team play the individual player can surpass the actual result, remembering that in the national game the verdict was decided on penalties, and that the best player when Real Madrid won was the goalkeeper. Salah is confirmed as being at the pinnacle of his abilities in the year that saw him contest the last act of the European club competition for the third time.
The Dubai Sports Council continues to organise the important annual event, which has become an important global platform for the development of football and a meeting place for the most popular stars in the world, including coaches, players, management, leaders and decision-makers in international federations and clubs.
The winners of the key awards were honoured with a display of their pictures on the Burj Khalifa. They included Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Romario, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, and Mohamed Salah.
The Dubai Sports Council continues to organize the important annual event, which has become an important global platform for the development of football and a meeting place for the most popular game stars in the world, including coaches, players, management, leaders and decision-makers in international federations and clubs.
H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, welcomed the participants who began to arrive in Dubai during the past days, and H.H. said, “This event, which was launched by the Dubai Sports Council, plays a pivotal and major role in the efforts to develop football in the country, the region and the world. It also plays a pivotal role.” In empowering societies through sports, based on the conference’s membership in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the Dubai International Sports Conference confirms every year that it is a global platform to discuss the reality and future of football everywhere, while the distinguished ones are honored at the Dubai Globe Soccer Award ceremony. Achievers in all fields within the football sector and its wide specialties, and among the honorees are the players who left unforgettable marks in the world of football and became role models for millions of players everywhere.
He added, “The presence and participation of management, playing and training stars in the sessions of the conference, which will be held this year under the slogan (The Road to Championships). It includes a session on attracting talents and another on the way to winning championships. The football sector in the country to meet their counterparts from the professional clubs with the greatest achievements, enhance the prospects for work among them, and form fruitful partnerships and successful cooperation relations that contribute to achieving the desired development for our clubs seeking to achieve success in the world of successful professionalism. It is also a wide field for developing our national cadres and forming a sports model. A successful patriot in various disciplines in the world of professional football.”
Karim Benzema was awarded the best men player at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards 2022.
France striker Benzema was picked for his outstanding performances in 2022 in which his 44 goals in 46 games led Real Madrid to La Liga and Champions League success while Spain midfielder Putellas for her central role in Barcelona’s success last season.
Alexia Putellas was awarded the best women players at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards 2022.
Alexia Putellas – BEST WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Awarded by: His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice President of Dubai Sports Council
After a stellar season with her club, Barcelona, which took home no fewer than 3 trophies in 2021 – Spanish League, Queen’s Cup and UEFA Women’s Champions League (Europe) – Putellas makes Globe Soccer history as the second holder of the award dedicated to women in football, after the victory of the English champion Lucy Bronze in 2019.
Already awarded by UEFA with the Women’s Player of the Year Award and with the UEFA Club Football Award as the Best Midfielder of the 20-21 season, and also with the women’s Ballon d’Or, the Spanish footballer hits the jackpot with her fourth individual trophy this year. Following the Globe Soccer award win in 2021 for the Barcelona and the Spanish national team champion, a second prize for Alexia, twice winner of the Golden Ball and already holder of the highest awards from FIFA and UEFA.
The evening session, the 17th Dubai International Sports Conference, hosted and organized by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, titled ‘The Road to Championships’, under the slogan ‘The Road to Championships,’ saw two of the football’s top global stakeholders and most famous European and international football players come together on one stage for the first time. Sergio Ramos, former captain of the Spanish national team and Real Madrid and the current defender of Paris Saint-Germain, and giant striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the star of the Swedish national team and many major European clubs, and the current striker of the Italian club AC Milan, for a dialogue on shaping the future of the sport, discussed how talented players face challenges at the beginning of their careers, the role of experienced players in developing the technical and mental skills of their younger team members. The session emphasized on the role of the players in creating a team with the personality of a champion and the ability to win the most important titles.
During three weeks of public voting, fans were invited to vote for their favourite players. This year, 33 million votes were cast from 225 countries and territories – up from 15 million last year. TikTok fans once again voted in their millions, this year choosing Egypt forward Mohamed Salah as their TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year winner.
With a total of 22 awards which were presented during the star-studded ceremony, the three of the sport’s biggest names were honoured for their outstanding contribution in recent years and presented with Player Career Awards. The recipients were Brazil World Cup winner Romario, the first player to score at least 100 goals for three different clubs; England and Manchester United record goal scorer, Wayne Rooney and AC Milan’s Swedish striker Ibrahimovic.
AC Milan and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimović was one of three players presented with Player Career Awards.
Retired striker Emilio Butragueno received the Best Men’s Club of the Year award on behalf of Real Madrid, amongst a very competitve category with 20 nominees, and for the Best Women’s Club of the Year, Olympique Lyonnais Feminin beat nine other contenders to win.
Spanish manager Unai Emery, now in charge at Premier League Aston Villa, received the Coach Career Award and Italian Adriano Galliani, received the Executive Career Award.
Spanish giants Real Madrid bagged a total of six awards during the evening.
Carlo Ancelotti received the Best Coach of the Year and Best President of the Year went to Florentino Perez.
The Best Executive of the Year went to Real Madrid’s CEO, Jose Angel Sanchez. A new award, Best Scout of the Year, went to Juni Calafat, a man who is regarded as an integral part of Real’s global success.
Sergio Ramos was awarded Best Defender of All Time, and Benfica, the current champions of Uefa Youth League, received the Best Youth Team of the Year award.
Two new awards, Power Horse Emerging Player of the Year went to Napoli’s Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who has shown outstanding performances last season.
The CNN Off The Pitch Award was presented to Didier Drogba for the work done by the Didier Drogba Foundation since 2007, to bring electricity to small villages and building health centres and schools, and donating to orphanages.
Best Sporting Director of the Year was awarded jointly to technical director Paolo Maldini and sport director Frederic Massara for their work at the Italian club AC Milan.
Recognising talents and placing the player in best team, very critical aspect of the football game, the Best Agent of the Year went to Portuguese super-agent, Jorge Mendes and Best Transfer Deal of the Year went to Rafaela Pimenta for her influence, dedication and talent. Acknowledging his long and successful career, Rene Ramos took home the Agent Career Award.
Best Sporting Director of the Year was awarded jointly to technical director Paolo Maldini and sport director Frederic Massara for their work at the Italian club AC Milan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Spanish giants Real Madrid bagged a total of six awards during the evening.
Carlo Ancelotti received the Best Coach of the Year and Best President of the Year went to Florentino Perez.
The Best Executive of the Year went to Real Madrid’s CEO, Jose Angel Sanchez. A new award, Best Scout of the Year, went to Juni Calafat, a man who is regarded as an integral part of Real’s global success.
Sergio Ramos was awarded Best Defender of All Time, and Benfica, the current champions of Uefa Youth League, received the Best Youth Team of the Year award.
Two new awards, Power Horse Emerging Player of the Year went to Napoli’s Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who has shown outstanding performances last season.
The CNN Off The Pitch Award was presented to Didier Drogba for the work done by the Didier Drogba Foundation since 2007, to bring electricity to small villages and building health centres and schools, and donating to orphanages.
Best Sporting Director of the Year was awarded jointly to technical director Paolo Maldini and sport director Frederic Massara for their work at the Italian club AC Milan.
Recognising talents and placing the player in best team, very critical aspect of the football game, the Best Agent of the Year went to Portuguese super-agent, Jorge Mendes and Best Transfer Deal of the Year went to Rafaela Pimenta for her influence, dedication and talent. Acknowledging his long and successful career, Rene Ramos took home the Agent Career Award.
Best Sporting Director of the Year was awarded jointly to technical director Paolo Maldini and sport director Frederic Massara for their work at the Italian club AC Milan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The newly launched Globe Soccer Digital Awards presented by 433, honoured the finest digital media influencers and creators in football’s virtual arena across five categories.
The Best Football Esports Player went to current FIFAe World Cup champion Diogo Pombo aka Tuga810.
Fabrizio Romano, the well-known sports journalist took home the Best Football Journalist award.
The Best Football Social Media Influencer was awarded to Khaby Lame, the successful video creator who commands a social media following well above 200 million.
Mohammed Al Noufali aka Alnoufali_7, the accomplished freestyler from Oman, bagged the Best Football TikTok Creator award, and Aaron Ollero, the Spanish football content creator best known as Zabalive, received the Best Football YouTube Creator award.
The event began with a morning session about talent retention and development at the headquarters of the Dubai Sports Council. Rui Costa, star of the former Portuguese national team and Italian clubs Fiorentina and AC Milan, and the current president of SL Benfica; and Unai Emery, the former coach of Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal, and the current coach of Aston Villa; the famous Italian coach Fabio Capello; and Julian Ward, the sporting director of Liverpool, participated in the session and shared their perspectives.