Finalists Announced for 16th Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai

Dubai: The grand finalists for the 16th Globe Soccer Awards have been officially announced after more than 30 million football fans worldwide cast their votes to decide the standout players, clubs, and coaches of 2025.

The winners will be crowned at an exclusive, invitation-only ceremony on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai, in what promises to be one of the biggest football nights of the year. The event will bring together some of the sport’s most celebrated stars, legends, decision-makers, and emerging talents.

Fans voted across nine core categories, including Best Men’s Player, Best Women’s Player, Best Men’s Club, Best Women’s Club, Best Coach, Best Midfielder, Best Forward, Emerging Player, and Best Middle East Player. Additional awards to be presented on the night include Best Agent, Best Sporting Director, the Maradona Award, as well as special career and honorary recognitions.

PSG Lead the Shortlists

UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) dominate the final shortlists. The French champions are nominated for Best Men’s Club, alongside Barcelona, Chelsea, Flamengo, and Liverpool. PSG head coach Luis Enrique is also a finalist for Best Coach, competing with Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Hansi Flick (Barcelona), and Enzo Maresca (Chelsea).

In the Best Men’s Player category, PSG duo Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha will compete against Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) and Barcelona stars Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

Women’s Football Spotlight

In women’s football, Barcelona Femení and Spain international Aitana Bonmatí will look to continue their dominance, with Bonmatí aiming to win the Best Women’s Player award for a third consecutive year. She faces strong competition from Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal), Melchie Dumornay (Lyon), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), and Alessia Russo (Arsenal).

The finalists for Best Women’s Club are Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea FC, and Juventus, reflecting another outstanding year for elite women’s football.

Star Power and Regional Recognition

Adding to the evening’s star power, Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed his attendance at the ceremony. The Al Nassr and Portugal forward is also a finalist for Best Middle East Player, alongside Salem Al-Dawsari (Al Hilal), Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad), and Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli).

Partners and LaLiga Awards

For a second consecutive year, the Globe Soccer Awards will be supported by title sponsor BEYOND Developments. Other confirmed partners include Saltanat Diamond Gallery as presenting sponsor, with Mansory, OnePlayr, Saudi National Bank, Atlantis The Royal, Jacob & Co, Jetex, and SMC as platinum sponsors. Media partners for the 2025 edition include CNN, SKY, MARCA, TikTok, Koora Break, and La Presse.

Spain’s LaLiga EA Sports, a strategic partner of the Globe Soccer Awards, will also present its 2024–2025 season awards in Dubai. The winners include Raphinha (Barcelona) as Best Player, Hansi Flick (Barcelona) as Best Coach, Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) as Best Emerging Player, Luka Sučić (Real Sociedad) for Best Goal, and Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid) for Best Save.

With global stars, elite clubs, and football legends set to gather in Dubai, the 16th Globe Soccer Awards promise an unforgettable night celebrating excellence across the world’s most popular sport.