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Globe Soccer Awards: Ronaldo thanks Dubai's royal family for friendship, hospitality

Dubai - The Juventus ace was voted the Player of the Century at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.

Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo shares a special bond with the UAE and Dubai and the Portuguese star has sent out a special message to the Dubai Royal Family, thanking them for the friendship, hospitality and respect during his stay here in the Emirate.

The Juventus ace was voted the Player of the Century at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, which was held at the Armani Hotel at Burj Khalifa on Sunday night.

And after the ceremony, Ronaldo, winner of five Ballon d’Or trophies, took to Instagram to thank the Dubai Royal Family.

“Couldn’t be happier with tonight’s award! As I’m about to celebrate my 20th year as a professional footballer, Globe Soccer Player Of The Century is a recognition that I receive with so much joy and pride! Once again, great Gala tonight in Dubai at such an amazing place as Burj Khalifa,” Ronaldo wrote in the post.

“Congratulations to Robert Lewandowski on his Player Of The Year Award, to Hans-Flick as Coach Of The Year and to Pep Guardiola as Coach Of The Century. Also to Casillas and Piqué for their Career Awards, and last but not least, congrats to my friend Jorge Mendes on his Agent Of The Century Award.

“Finally I must thank, once again, to the Dubai Royal Family for the respect, friendship and hospitality that I allways receive in wonderfull Dubai, and to all the fans that voted for me in such a huge worldwide online voting with over 21 million votes,” he added.

Prior to the awards ceremony, Ronaldo, who also took part in the Dubai International Sports Conference, also spent time with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, at a gym in Dubai.

“Always a pleasure to see you bro,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Thursday, as he posed with Sheikh Hamdan in a Dubai gym.

Sheikh Hamdan also posted a video of which he can be seen exercising with Ronaldo. Meanwhile, social media users posted a video of a vehicle special plate – CR 7 which is the initials of Cristiano Ronaldo and his soccer shirt number.

james@khaleejtimes.com