Today's Edition
DUBAI (WAM)
A whopping 70 million votes have been cast in the Beyond Developments Globe Soccer Dubai Awards with 10 days of polling still to go, equalling last year's record figure already.
The competition will take place alongside the 19th Dubai International Sports Conference, at Atlantis, The Palm in partnership and support with Dubai Sports Council, on December 27.
Four Premier League stars - Rodri, Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah - have made it into the shortlist of 18 competitors vying for the Best Men's Player prize at the glittering gala after half of the league's representation was cut following the first round of voting.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland will be vying to retain his Best Men’s Player award at the 15th edition of the showpiece event at the five-star venue, with club teammate Rodri, Real Madrid trio Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, as well as legendary duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi among the stars standing in his way.
The Norwegian is also a contender in the 10-man shortlist in the Best Forward category, which includes City colleague Phil Foden, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane. The Best Midfielder category consists of the aforementioned Bellingham and Rodri, with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka also in the running.
Polling opened two weeks ago to football fans across the world. They have until December 10 to have their say. The winners will be determined by a combination of fan votes and the Globe Soccer Jury, made up of legendary names such as Marcello Lippi, Francesco Totti, Iker Casillas and Luis Figo.
Last year, some 70 million people from more than 225 countries and territories cast their votes.
But this figure has already been matched just halfway into the ballot period this time round as fans look to have their say on the players of the year from both the men and women's games.
