While Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, playing for Manchester City, won the "Globe Soccer" award for Best Player of 2023 at the ceremony held in Dubai on Friday, Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo from Al Nassr stole the show by receiving three awards: Best Player in the Middle East, the Diego Maradona Legend Award for Best Goal Scorer, and Best Player as voted by the public.
Haaland, who played a crucial role in his club's five-title historic achievement (Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup), compensated for not winning the "Best" award given by FIFA, which went to Argentine Lionel Messi, World Cup champion and star of Inter Miami. Although both Haaland and Messi scored 48 points in the "Best" award, Messi benefited from an additional point due to the regulations that grant more weight to votes from national team captains.
Haaland, who has been sidelined since December due to injury and is currently in the UAE for a training camp with his team in Abu Dhabi for a week, said after winning the award, "Manchester City is a great club and I enjoy playing there, and I am really looking forward to returning; I feel bored not playing."
Ronaldo, 38, who scored 54 goals with his club and national team in 2023, becoming the top scorer of the year ahead of English Harry Kane and French Kylian Mbappé (both with 52 goals), expressed pride in his achievements, stating, "I am proud to have done all this, and I will soon be 39 years old." He added, "I am happy to be in the Saudi league with Al Nassr."
Manchester City dominated the awards, being named Best Club in England, Europe, and the world, with Spanish Pep Guardiola as Best Coach, his compatriot Rodri as Best Midfielder, and Brazilian Ederson as Best Goalkeeper. Spanish player Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona) was awarded Best Female Player, while English John Terry (former Chelsea defender) and Brazilian Casemiro (current Manchester United player) received awards for Best Career as Players. Argentine Lionel Scaloni was recognized for Best Career as a Coach, and English Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) won Best Young Player. Al Ahly of Egypt was awarded Best Club in the Middle East, and Barcelona claimed Best Women's Club. Portuguese Jorge Mendes was honored as the Best Player Agent.
The "Globe Soccer" awards have been held since 2010 in collaboration between the European Players' Agents Association and the European Clubs Association, celebrating notable figures in football, including clubs, players, coaches, referees, and agents.
