Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo is set to grace Dubai’s ultra-luxury Atlantis The Royal on December 28, 2025, for the exclusive 16th Globe Soccer Awards ceremony. The Portuguese superstar and Al Nassr forward arrives as a finalist for the Best Middle East Player award, a title he previously secured in 2024.
Ronaldo faces formidable competition for this year’s honor from prominent regional players including Salem Al-Dawsari (Al Hilal), Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad), and Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli). The finalists were determined through an extensive global voting process that garnered over 30 million fan votes worldwide.
The awards ceremony, an invitation-only gala, will assemble football’s elite including current stars, legendary figures, key decision-makers, and emerging talents. Beyond the player awards, the event will recognize excellence in categories such as Best Agent, Best Sporting Director, and the prestigious Maradona Award, alongside various career achievement honors.
This visit marks Ronaldo’s return to the UAE following his recent appearance in Abu Dhabi on December 10, where he participated in a friendly match between Al Nassr and Al Wahda FC at Al Nahyan Stadium. The football legend has maintained strong connections with the region, having competed in the Saudi Super Cup in Abu Dhabi in April 2024 and participated in AFC Champions League quarterfinals against Al Ain FC earlier that year.
Ronaldo has previously expressed admiration for the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards’ integrity and organization, noting after last year’s ceremony: ‘This is why I love the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. They do it so well every year here. They do an honest award. So many champions have attended this event over the years because they always do a great event.’ He received the 2024 award from Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.