Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Al Ain dominated the 13th edition of the UAE Pro League Awards for the 2025–26 season, securing seven accolades at a gala ceremony held at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi.
The haul capped an exceptional campaign in which the club completed the double by winning both the ADNOC Pro League and the UAE President's Cup.
The evening celebrated the top players, coaches, goalkeepers and emerging talent, alongside statistical achievements and organisational awards.
Seven Al Ain players were also named in the official "Dream Team" season line-up.
Matias Palacios claimed the Golden Ball for Best Player, whilst Serbian manager Vladimir Ivic won the Leader award for Best Coach. Khalid Eisa received the Golden Glove for Best Goalkeeper, Abdelkarim Traore took home the Golden Boy award for Best Young Player (Under-23), and Moroccan forward Soufiane Rahimi was voted the Fans' Player of the Year.
In other fan-voted categories, Al Wasl's Sergio Pereira won the Fans' Goal of the Year. Togolese striker Kodjo Laba continued his remarkable consistency by securing the ADNOC Pro League Golden Boot with 25 goals.This represents his fourth top-scorer title, following previous triumphs in 2021–22, 2022–23, and 2024–25.
In the statistical categories, Al Nasr's Abdullah Toure won the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup Golden Boot with four goals, whilst Al Jazira's Ali Al Maamari took the Silver Boot as top scorer in the Under-23 League with 17 goals.
In the criteria-based awards, Al Ain received the Fan Attendance Award ahead of Bani Yas and Al Dhafra, whilst Al Nasr took home the Club Licensing and Professionalism Award.
The event also recognised the league's commercial and official partners for their ongoing support. Honourees included Abu Dhabi Sports TV, Dubai Sports Channels, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Emaar Properties, the President's Initiatives, Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Emirates Airline, Etihad Water and Electricity Company, Mubadala Investment Company, Etihad Rail, Salem Al Shuaibi Jewellery, McDonald's UAE, TikTok, Al Nabooda Automobiles, Rixos Hotels, and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.
Abdullah Al Junaibi, Chairman of the UAE Pro League, addressed attendees, stating that football serves as a platform for inspiring youth and bringing communities together. He noted that the objective is not merely to replicate past success, but to continuously raise standards, urging clubs to build upon their recent achievements as the new season approaches.
Al Junaibi highlighted the league's growing reach, revealing that broadcast coverage reached over 45 million television viewers and was covered by more than 800 media outlets during the season.
Digital platform impressions exceeded 5 billion, generating a media value of over Dh1 billion, whilst the total television and digital media value for partners and clubs reached approximately Dh3 billion.
The ceremony also marked the official appointment of former Spain international Andres Iniesta as ambassador for the ADNOC Pro League to help expand its global presence.
Additionally, the league unveiled its official club mascots and launched a new official anthem performed in four languages under the slogan "Football Unites Us".
Iniesta expressed his gratitude for the role, noting that having concluded his playing career in the UAE in 2023, he looks forward to contributing to the league's development while pursuing his coaching qualifications in the country.
Pro League Dream Team (2025–26)
Goalkeeper: Khalid Eisa (Al Ain)
Defenders: Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Kwan Santos (Shabab Al Ahli), Renan Victor (Shabab Al Ahli)
Midfielders: Nicolas Jimenez (Al Wasl), Abdelkarim Traore (Al Ain), Matias Palacios (Al Ain), Alejandro Romero (Al Ain)
Forwards: Kodjo Laba (Al Ain), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Yuri Cesar (Shabab Al Ahli)
