The glittering city of Dubai played host to football's elite as the Globe Soccer Awards 2025 celebrated the year's finest talents on Sunday, December 28. The ceremony, orchestrated by the Dubai Sports Council, saw a constellation of stars from the pitch and the front office gather under one roof. The night belonged to two iconic figures: the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo and the electrifying Ousmane Dembele, whose accolades headlined an event dominated by French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Stars of the Night: Ronaldo and Dembele Take Centre Stage
While the event honoured excellence across the football world, all eyes were on the individual awards. Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary forward for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, added another trophy to his staggering collection by being named the Best Middle Eastern Player. This award recognises his profound impact on and off the field in the region since his high-profile move.
The evening's most coveted prize, however, went to French winger Ousmane Dembele. His phenomenal performances for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the French national team earned him the title of Best Men's Player for 2025. Dembele triumphed over a formidable shortlist that included teammates and global superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, and Raphinha.
PSG's Unprecedented Clean Sweep
The 2025 edition of the awards could easily be renamed the 'PSG Gala', as the Parisian giants claimed an astonishing number of honours. Their success story was written across multiple categories, underscoring a year of complete dominance.
The club's achievements were recognised with the Best Men's Club award. This collective triumph was mirrored by individual recognitions for the people who built and guided the team. Manager Luis Enrique was rightly honoured as the Best Coach, while midfield maestro Vitinha picked up the Best Midfielder award. The future looks bright too, with young talent Desire Doue winning the Best Emerging Player prize.
Completing the PSG sweep off the pitch, Luis Campos was named Best Sporting Director and President Nasser Al-Khelaifi received the Best Sports President award.
Complete Honour Roll: Winners Across All Categories
The Globe Soccer Awards celebrate the entire football ecosystem. In the women's game, Barcelona's Spanish maestro Aitana Bonmati continued her reign by securing the Best Women's Player award, with her club, Barcelona, named Best Women's Club.
Other notable winners included Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as Best Forward, and the Portuguese national team as Best National Team. Super-agent Jorge Mendes won Best Agent, and Paul Pogba's inspiring return to form with AS Monaco was acknowledged with the Best Sporting Comeback award.
The ceremony also paid tribute to legends, with Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata and Spain's Andres Iniesta receiving Lifetime Achievement awards. In a special cross-sport recognition, Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic was presented with the Globe Sports Award.
The event in Dubai solidified its status as a premier date in the football calendar, not just celebrating the goals and victories, but the strategic minds, emerging talents, and enduring legends who shape the beautiful game. The overwhelming success of PSG's contingent marks a historic moment for the club, while the individual honours for Dembele and Ronaldo prove that star power, in its different generations, continues to captivate the world.
