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Wed, Jan 14, 2026 | Rajab 25, 1447 | Fajr 05:45 | DXB 
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Dubai: Ronaldo wins Best Middle East Player 2025, scores award three years in a row
Receiving the award at a packed gala, Ronaldo said the ceremony remained one of his favourites, calling it a big pleasure to see players, presidents and familiar faces gathered together
Cristiano Ronaldo was named Best Middle East Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Sunday night, leading a star-studded ceremony that brought together football royalty, club presidents, agents and global sports icons under one roof.
Receiving the award at a packed gala, Cristiano Ronaldo said the ceremony remained one of his favourites, calling it a big pleasure to see players, presidents and familiar faces gathered together. He mentioned that his motivation to perform at the highest level remains unchanged. "I still motivate myself to carry on, it doesn’t matter where I play to score goals and keep going,” Ronaldo said.
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“I want to win more trophies and reach a number, and I will reach that number.”
The night celebrated excellence across football, with Paris Saint-Germain dominating several top honours. PSG were named Best Men’s Club, while club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi won Best President.
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Midfielder Vitinha claimed Best Midfielder, and Ousmane Dembele was crowned Best Men’s Player. Dembele said: “It was an exceptional year. Winning the Champions League is very difficult, but we made it happen. We had to work hard and continue at it.”
Spanish football also featured prominently, with Lamine Yamal enjoying a remarkable night. The young player won Best under-23 Player, Best Forward, and later received the Maradona Award.
Jan Oblak picked up LaLiga’s Best Saves honour, while Raphinha was named LaLiga Best Player.
Hansi Flick won Best Manager, while Luis Enrique was named Best Coach. Luis Campos received the Best Sporting Director award, and agent Jorge Mendes was honoured as Best Agent. FC Barcelona Femeni won Best Women’s Club.
One of the heartwarming moment was evident when Diogo Jota received a Special Award, which was collected by his parents. This attracted emotional response from the audience.
The ceremony also reached beyond football. The newly introduced Globe Sports Award, presented for the first time, was handed by Ronaldo to tennis great Novak Djokovic in what became one of the night’s most heartfelt highlights.
With global football icons, league leaders, and cross-sport legends in attendance, including Paul Pogba, who won the Comeback Award, and MMA stars Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
SM Ayaz Zakir
SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.
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