Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the ‘Best Player of the Year’ crown for the fifth time at the 10th Globe Soccer Awards as the world of football turned out to honour the sport’s best in Dubai.
The Juventus superstar – winner of the title in 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2017 – edged out French FIFA World Cup-winning pair Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to lift the prestigious award, presented by HE Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
Title-sponsored by Dubai Holding and supported by Audi, du, Meraas and Emirates, the Globe Soccer Awards honoured many of the biggest names in the sport as well as Middle East football celebrities.
French national team coach Didier Deschamps, only the third player to lift the FIFA World Cup as both player and coach, was named ‘Best Coach of the Year’, while Juventus’ Chief Football Officer Fabio Paratici collected the ‘Best Sporting Director Award’.
Other notable winners on the night included Fabio Capello (Coach Career Award, presented by du from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC)), Atletico Madrid (Best Club of the Year) and Jorge Mendes (Agent of the Year).
