UEFA Champions League finalists Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid and Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund are among the 20 nominees for Best Men’s Player at the inaugural KAFD Globe Soccer European Awards 2024. The event is set to take place on May 28 at the prestigious Hotel Cala di Volpe in Costa Smeralda, Italy.
Joining the high-flying duo are notable names such as PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, and Manchester City quartet Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri. Other nominees include Bayer Leverkusen’s free-scoring full-back Álex Grimaldo and Inter Milan trio Alessandro Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez, and Hakan Calhanoglu.
The final shortlist will be determined through online fan voting, which opens on Friday and runs until May 15. Subsequently, the winners will be selected by a jury comprising ex-players like Iker Casillas and Luis Figo, former and active coaches including Marcello Lippi and Antonio Conte, club presidents and CEOs, referees, agents, and other football stakeholders.
Organizers of the annual Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, recognizing top performers in the football industry for over 14 years, announced in August the launch of a new continental Globe Soccer series for 2024. Winners from this continental edition will automatically be shortlisted for the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, held each winter in the United Arab Emirates and attended by football royalty such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pep Guardiola, and Zinedine Zidane.
The KAFD Globe Soccer European Awards will coincide with the first in-person end-of-season LALIGA Awards, promising a special night for European football.
Fifteen clubs from five of Europe’s top leagues are in contention for the inaugural Best Men’s Club (Europe) award. Bundesliga champions Leverkusen are joined by Serie A winners Inter Milan, English trio Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City, as well as all four Champions League semi-finalists: Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund.
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is unsurprisingly among the nominees for Best Coach after guiding his side to their first Bundesliga title in what has been an unprecedented season. The Spaniard shares the list with esteemed names like Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti, PSG’s Luis Enrique, Bayern’s Thomas Tuchel, and Manchester City’s Guardiola.
The Emerging Player Award features 15 top talents born after 2002. Notably, 20-year-old Bellingham is nominated alongside Madrid teammate Eduardo Camavinga (21), Bayern’s Jamal Musiala (21) and Mathys Tel (18), Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (20), Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo (18), and Barcelona’s 16-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal.
The eagerly awaited evening will include the presentation of the Best Goalscorer award to the top goalscorer playing in Europe. Career Awards will also be presented to outstanding players and coaches, along with specific recognitions for major European leagues.
In a landmark agreement signed last year, the inaugural KAFD Globe Soccer European Awards will be held alongside Spanish football’s official LALIGA Awards. The ceremony will feature four main categories: Best Goal, Best Player, Best Coach, and Best U23 Player, along with special awards for Team of the Season and LALIGA Champion, which will be presented to Real Madrid.
In accordance with the agreement, LALIGA is committed to involving fans in the awards process. Winners will be determined through a voting system involving fans, club captains, and an expert committee from a list of nominees to be revealed next week. The awards will mark the conclusion of another thrilling season for LALIGA EA SPORTS.
Additionally, the Globe Soccer Forum will take place the following day at the same venue, focusing on financial sustainability, player welfare, and multi-club ownership. Hosted in partnership with Smeralda Holding, owner of Hotel Cala di Volpe, the forum aims to address key issues in the football industry.
Earlier this week, Globe Soccer announced King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) as the title sponsor of its inaugural European edition. Located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, KAFD is a major financial hub designed to be a world-class centre with modern infrastructure. Italpreziosi has joined as Platinum sponsor, alongside Gold sponsors Silversands, Azimut Yachts, Socios.com, and Azura, while Moët Hennessy is the official technical partner.
