The Globe Soccer Awards, commonly and unofficially known as Dubai d'Or,[2] are awards which acknowledge achievements in football.[3] The event was founded in 2010 by Tommaso Bendoni and is co-owned by Ricardo Silva.[4] It is organized by Globe Soccer and involves participation from international football organizations such as UEFA,[5][6]UAE Pro League,[6] ECA (European Clubs Association),[5][6] and EFAA (European Association of Football Agents). It is held annually in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[7][8] Some of the Globe Soccer Awards' partners are the Dubai Sports Council and the Spanish newspaper Marca.
The annual ceremony of the event is attended by international football players, coaches, and celebrities.[9]
History
Founded in 2010 by Tommaso Bendoni,[4] the first edition of the Globe Soccer Awards started with three categories, expanding to six in 2011 and ten by 2012.[10] Over the years, the number of awards and categories has increased, mirroring the growth and diversification of global football.[10] The focus on women's football at the Globe Soccer Awards has also increased with specific categories introduced for achievements in women's football.[10]
Selection process
The awards are given to individuals and entities within the football industry for their achievements.[11] The selection process for award recipients involves two stages of voting, where football fans worldwide participate.[12] In the first stage, the public selects the finalists from a set of nominees.[11][12] In the second stage, the final decision is made by both public votes and a jury comprising football professionals such as journalists, agents, coaches, and ex-players.[11][13][12]
Criticism
The Globe Soccer Awards are not widely considered a serious or prestigious ceremony by most football experts, journalists, or analysts. They are often viewed as a glamorous commercial event with significant biases and limited credibility compared to established awards like the Ballon d'Or or FIFA The BestAward.[14][15] The Globe Soccer Awards have faced criticism for perceived bias toward agentJorge Mendes and his client Cristiano Ronaldo, due to Mendes' role as a co-founder and driving force behind the event, his near-monopoly on the Best Agent of the Year award, and Ronaldo's record haul of prizes. This perception has been further fueled by the introduction of the Best Middle East Player category in 2023, shortly after Ronaldo's high-profile transfer to Saudi club Al-Nassr in January of that year.[14][16]
Winners
2010
In December 2010, during the closing gala, the Audi Football Night, the winners of the Globe Soccer Awards were announced:[17]
Similarly, at the Globe Soccer 2020 Awards ceremony, the organization decided to simultaneously award a series of special awards known as the 21st Century Awards, which seek to recognize the most important figures in football from 2001 to 2020. The award ceremony was attended by different personalities linked to the world of football, which highlights the president of FIFAGianni Infantino who had delivered a speech at the conference.[41][42][43]
The results of the internet Poll on 28 December 2020 for the best players of the 21st century (2001–2020), with just six players collecting over 1%, were as follows.[45][46][47]
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