Frank Christian
The Globe Soccer Awards, featuring legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi among past winners and current nominees, aims to unify global football accolades and enhance its standing relative to the Ballon d’Or.
Established in 2010, these awards culminate in an annual event held in Dubai that celebrates outstanding players, coaches, executives, and other contributors from the previous year.
Though still overcoming some initial biases, the Globe Soccer Awards are gaining traction, bolstered by the involvement of renowned football stars who help in selecting nominees and winners.
The Sporting News explores the origins of the Globe Soccer Awards and the criteria for choosing winners in the upcoming 2024 edition.
What Are the Globe Soccer Awards?
The Globe Soccer Awards are managed by an organization of the same name and have been held every January in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since their inception.
They were created by prominent agent Jorge Mendes alongside Italian entrepreneurs Riccardo Silva and Tommaso Bendoni. Mendes has notably claimed the Best Agent award in 11 out of the 13 years the event has been held.
“Globe Soccer’s mission focuses on honoring diverse aspects of football,” states their official website. “The awards recognize not only players but all stakeholders in football, including agents, directors, and referees.”
The next ceremony for the Globe Soccer Awards, aimed at honoring performances from 2024, is set for December 27, taking place in Dubai.
Categories for the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards
Winners will be announced in the following 12 categories:
- Best Men’s Player (33 nominees)
- Best Midfielder (11 nominees)
- Best Forward (10 nominees)
- Best Women’s Player (20 nominees)
- Best Men’s Club (12 nominees)
- Best Women’s Club (5 nominees)
- Best Coach (9 nominees, exclusively in men’s football)
- Best Emerging Player (10 male nominees)
- Best Agent (7 nominees)
- Best Sporting Director (6 nominees)
- Best Middle Eastern Player (7 nominees)
- Best Middle Eastern Club (5 nominees)
Determining the Winners of the Globe Soccer Awards
The selection of winners involves two voting processes: a fan poll, ending on November 25, and a jury vote, which will run from November 28 to December 10.
The nominees with the greatest fan support will advance to the second round, where the final decision will be based on votes: 80% from the jury and 20% from the public. The victorious nominees will be revealed during the gala on December 27.
However, this voting method applies to only eight categories, which include:
Best Men’s Player
Best Women’s Player
Best Men’s Club
Best Women’s Club
Best Coach
Best Emerging Player
Best Middle Eastern Player
Best Middle Eastern Club
Jury for the Globe Soccer Awards
The jury responsible for selecting nominees and finalists encompasses a diverse group from the football community.
This 28-member “jury” comes from various backgrounds, including current and former elite players, coaches, club executives, referees, government officials, and business figures, showcasing a notable presence from Italy and Portugal.
| Name | Known For | Name | Known For |
| Ian Rush | Former Player — England, Liverpool | Ferran Soriano | Executive — CEO, Man City |
| Francesco Totti | Former Player — Italy, Roma | Iker Casillas | Former Player — Spain, Real Madrid |
| Eric Abidal | Former Player — France, Barcelona | Nicola Rizzoli | Former Referee — Italy, UEFA |
| Augusto Cesar Lendoiro | Former Executive — Deportivo de la Coruña | Rob Jansen | Agent |
| Saeed Hareb | Official — Dubai Sports Ministry | Miguel Angel Gil | Executive — CEO, Atlético Madrid |
| Umberto Gandini | Former Executive — CEO, Roma | Adriano Galliani | Executive — CEO, Monza |
| Luis Figo | Former Player — Portugal, Real Madrid/Barcelona/Inter | Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa | Former Executive — President, Porto |
| Antonio Conte | Coach — Napoli | Fabio Capello | Former Coach — England, Real Madrid/AC Milan/Roma |
| Giovanni Branchini | Agent | Enrico Bendoni | Businessman — CEO, Bendoni Communications |
| Mohammed Al Kamali | Official — COO, Dubai Manufacturing & Exports | Mahdi Ali | Former Player & Coach — UAE, Al Ahli |
| Demetrio Albertini | CEO, Parma & Former Player — Italy, AC Milan | Mario Gallavotti | Official — Gallavotti Honorati De Marco Sports Law Firm |
| Marcello Lippi | Former Coach — Italy, Juventus | Felix Brych | Referee — Bundesliga, UEFA/FIFA |
| Anderson Luis de Souza | Former Player — Portugal, Barcelona/Porto/Chelsea | Emilio Butragueno | Former Player — Spain, Real Madrid |
| Alexia Putellas | Player — Spain, Barcelona | Gennaro Gattuso | Coach — Hajduk Split |
