54-goal haul sees Ronaldo eclipse nearest challengers Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland to cement his place as world’s leading marksman in 2023.
Al Nassr star also in contention to land Best Men’s Player, Best Middle East Player, and Fans’ Favourite Player at Dubai Globe Soccer Awards 2023
Dubai, UAE – January 4, 2024: Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo has added another impressive haul to his personal trophy cabinet after eclipsing Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland to clinch the Maradona Award for Best Goalscorer ahead of this month’s Dubai Globe Soccer Awards 2023, organised in collaboration with Dubai Sports Council and presented by Nakheel.
Ronaldo, whose tally of 54 goals in 59 games represents his best goal haul in a single calendar year since 2017, cemented his place as football’s top marksman in 2023 ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe (52 goals in 53 games) and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (52 in 57 games), while Manchester City’s Erling Haaland ended the year with 50 goals in 60 matches.
Ronaldo’s latest accolade capped a magical 12 months for the evergreen superstar, now 38, who has already scored 34 times in as many league games for Saudi Pro League title challengers Al Nassr. The world’s all-time record goalscorer, with 873 strikes currently to his name, is also in contention to land the Best Men’s Player, Best Middle East Player, and Fans’ Favourite Player at the glitzy Dubai Globe Soccer Awards ceremony, which will be held at The Atlantis, Palm on January 19. One of the world’s largest man-made islands, Palm Jumeirah is a marvel of luxury and engineering thanks to leading Dubai real estate developer Nakheel.
The second and final round of voting across the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards’ 11 main categories and six digital categories, including the inaugural Serie A awards, saw more than 50 million votes cast by football fans worldwide. The avalanche of votes has resulted in an accumulative total exceeding 70 million throughout the entire process – double the number of votes registered in 2022.
Globe Soccer’s Official Jury – made up of more than 30 key football industry figures, including Francesco Totti, Iker Casillas, Luis Figo, and Marcello Lippi – were also involved in the final selection process, which closed on December 28, 2023.
Meanwhile, an unprecedented number of downloads were recorded for the new Globe Soccer application, with 1.5 million people registering their votes to/on the dedicated app.
The Dubai Globe Soccer Awards 2023 will be broadcast live worldwide, with Saudi Sports Company (SSC) serving as the event’s official host broadcaster, with online streaming accessible on various channels.
Further announcements and updates ahead of the gala ceremony will be shared on Globe Soccer’s social media channels. The new Globe Soccer app is available for download from the iOS App Store and Google Play by searching for “Globe Soccer”.
ENDS
About Dubai Sports Council
Founded on November 30, 2005, following a decree by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Sports Council is the official body responsible for the development of the sports sector in the Emirate. Today, under the guidance of its Chairman, His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the DSC organises and supports more than 400 events annually – not just top-notch sporting extravaganzas, but also awards and conferences that promote excellence, creativity and innovation in the world of sports. The Council supervises the work of Dubai’s seven local sports clubs and takes active interest in encouraging the practice of physical activity in society, especially among women and children, through programs and activities designed to create awareness about the importance of sport and physical activity, and to make it a way of life for the community.
The DSC’s mandate, though, is not just to promote sport, create awareness and nurture talent, but to also support creativity and reward excellence, among both individuals and organisations and help Dubai become a land of health, happiness and vitality. It has organised many international conferences and symposiums since 2006, including the annual Dubai International Sports Conference, to enhance the knowledge and culture of professionalism, and has brought some of the biggest names from the world of sports here to share their vision and thoughts. The Council also seeks to develop the sports industry in the UAE and the world through initiatives like the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, and it organises many major international sports championships as well in cooperation with multiple sports bodies.
About Globe Soccer
Founded by Tommaso Bendoni and co-owned by Riccardo Silva, Globe Soccer is a Dubai-based football organisation that since 2010 has coordinated one of the most eagerly awaited and coveted awards ceremonies on the footballing calendar: The Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. Attracting high-profile attendees each year, the international event is unique in that it recognises and rewards all stakeholders in the game, from players to chairmen, fans to agents, directors to referees. Global reach has grown year-on-year, with the 2022 event proving no exception, surpassing all previous records with the number of awards increasing to 21, fan votes exceeding 47 million, and social media followers passing 6.5 million.
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For further information, please contact:
Globe Soccer
Sean Gallagher @ Action Global Communications – UAE
Email: DubaiGlobeSoccerAwards@ActionPRGroup.com or sean.g@actionprgroup.com
Mobile: +971 58 516 7041