Globe Soccer Awards: Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr wins Best Player award

Dubai: Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr clinched the Best Men’s Player and Best Forward while Jude Bellingham and Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo were the other big winners in the 15th Globe Soccer Dubai Awards on Friday.

Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council (DSC), crowned the winners at a glittering ceremony held at Atlantis, The Palm. The prestigious annual gala, held in conjunction with the 19th Dubai International Sports Conference, celebrates excellence in playing, coaching, and management within the international football community.

Vinicius Jr enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career in 2023/2024, finishing with 24 goals and contributing nine assists in 39 matches for Real Madrid. At 23 years and 325 days, the Brazilian also broke Lionel Messi’s record as the youngest player to score in multiple Champions League finals, leading the Spaniards to their 15th European title.

“As a little kid, I used to play barefoot in the streets of Sao Goncalo. I grew up in a poor place, surrounded by crime. So to be here is something very important to me because I’m not only representing Brazil but all the kids out there with the same dream,” said Vinicius Jr.

Bellingham, meanwhile, took home the Best Midfielder and Maradona Award following an outstanding calendar year, which saw the 21-year-old lift the LaLiga title and maiden Champions League in his first season at Los Blancos, as well as the Supercopa de Espana and Uefa Super Cup. The Birmingham City prodigy also helped England reach the final of the European Championship, contributing with some key goals along the way.

“It’s a privilege to win a trophy here tonightl. It wouldn’t be possible without my teammates, my staff, and most importantly, my family. My mum, who is here tonight, is the biggest motivation in my life,” Bellingham said.

Al Nassr forward Ronaldo clinched the Best Middle East Player for a second successive year, as well as being awarded the prestigious Top Goalscorer of All Time accolade, with the legendary forward currently standing on 917 career goals following his most recent strike against Al Ittihad.

“I am always happy to be here and see all the champions here. It’s fantastic. Now, my main goal is to win a trophy for Al Nassr,” Ronaldo said.

Apart from several Real Madrid representatives and Ronaldo, this year’s event attracted a full catalogue of football luminaries of past and present, including Brazil star Neymar, Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal, former England manager Fabio Capello, and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.

The Beyond Globe Soccer Dubai Awards captured global attention, with more than 100 million votes cast by fans from more than 200 countries and territories, eclipsing the previous record of 70 million.