Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
The grand finalists for the 16th GLOBE SOCCER Awards have been officially announced after more than 30 million football fans from across the world cast their votes. These votes helped decide the strongest contenders in global football this year, showing the huge interest and excitement around the annual awards.
The winners will be revealed at a special invitation-only ceremony on Sunday, 28 December 2025. The event will take place at the luxury Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai and is expected to attract some of the biggest names in football. The night will bring together star players, club leaders, legends of the game and young talents who are shaping football’s future.
Fans voted in two public voting rounds across nine main categories. These included 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. On the awards night, extra honours such as Best Agent, Best Sporting Director, the Maradona Award, along with special and lifetime awards, will also be presented.
UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain have a strong presence in the final lists. The club is competing for Best Men’s Club against Barcelona, Chelsea, Flamengo and Liverpool. PSG coach Luis Enrique is also shortlisted for Best Coach, where he will face Xabi Alonso of Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta of Arsenal, Hansi Flick of Barcelona and Enzo Maresca of Chelsea. PSG players Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha are finalists for Best Men’s Player, alongside Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona’s Raphinha and young talent Lamine Yamal.
In women’s football, Barcelona Femení and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí are aiming to win the Best Women’s Player award for the third straight year. She is competing against Mariona Caldentey, Melchie Dumornay, Alexia Putellas and Alessia Russo. For Best Women’s Club, the shortlisted teams are Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea FC and Juventus, reflecting the strong competition in women’s football.
Adding glamour to the event, Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that he will attend the ceremony. The Al Nassr and Portugal forward is also a finalist for Best Middle East Player, along with Salem Al-Dawsari, Karim Benzema and Riyad Mahrez, highlighting the growing strength of football in the region.
The awards will once again be supported by title sponsor BEYOND Developments, continuing their partnership for a second year. Many global brands are also backing the 2025 edition, including luxury, travel, banking and media partners, helping make the event one of football’s most high-profile celebrations.
Spain’s LaLiga will also use the Dubai event to present its 2024–2025 season awards. The winners include Raphinha as Best Player, Hansi Flick as Best Coach, Lamine Yamal as Best Emerging Player, Luka Sučić for Best Goal and Jan Oblak for Best Save. This adds even more importance to the night, making it a global celebration of football excellence.
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