Manchester City's Erling Haaland was crowned the Best Men's Player last year.
Seven La Liga stars, including Real Madrid's trio Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Rodri, along with legendary players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are part of the illustrious list of nominees for top individual honors at the annual Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. The event will coincide with the 19th Dubai International Sports Conference on December 27.
Global voting for the 15th edition of these prestigious awards opened on Thursday across all 12 main categories. Haaland, the reigning Best Men’s Player, will compete this year against Mbappe, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane for the same title. The Norwegian is also in the running for the Best Forward category, where he faces competition from Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who has already scored seven goals in 11 Premier League appearances this season. Palmer also features in the Best Midfielder list alongside Bellingham, Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella, and FC Barcelona’s Dani Olmo.
The Best Women's Player category includes Spain's World Cup-winning duo Aitana Bonmatí and Salma Paralluelo, as well as Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen. Among the contenders for the Best Men's Club are Spanish giants Real Madrid, reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, and 10 other continental or domestic champions from three continents.
Leverkusen’s remarkable 2023/2024 season saw them win their first Bundesliga title and their second DFB Pokal, becoming the first German team to achieve the league or domestic double unbeaten. This feat also set a new European record of 51 games without defeat across all competitions. Leverkusen’s manager, Xabi Alonso, is on the nine-man shortlist for Best Coach, which also includes Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti. FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich are among the five teams vying for the Best Women’s Club title.
Last year’s Dubai Globe Soccer Awards attracted a record-breaking 70 million votes from over 225 countries and territories, highlighting its global influence. Fans can vote for their favorites online at vote.globesoccer.com until December 10. The final winners will be determined by a combination of fan votes and the Globe Soccer Jury, which includes legendary figures like Marcello Lippi, Francesco Totti, Iker Casillas, and Luis Figo.
Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, expressed excitement for the 15th Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, noting its evolution from a prominent event in the UAE to a significant highlight on the global football calendar. The conference and awards ceremony play a crucial role in uniting influential figures in the sport and promoting its global development.
An online auction in December will offer one lucky bidder a Golden Ticket to the Beyond Developments Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Al Jalila Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to medical research, education, and treatment in the UAE.
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