SARDINIA: The inaugural KAFD Globe Soccer Awards – Europe edition announced the finalists for the Best Men’s Player, following an intense six-day public vote.
Under the umbrella of ‘Road to Dubai’ and organised in partnership with Dubai Sports Council, select winners from the European edition will be shortlisted for the year-ending Dubai Globe Soccer Awards global event in the UAE.
The ceremony will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, at Hotel Cala di Volpe in Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, with the participation of a group of the most prominent European football stars to celebrate the continental expansion of the annual Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.
The Best Men’s Player shortlist includes 12 stars, led by Real Madrid’s Champions League finalists Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, French superstar Kylian Mbappe, Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah, and a quartet of Manchester City players.
Ahead of the first KAFD Globe Soccer Awards Europe, which will also include the first, in-person, end-of-season LALIGA Awards, a star-studded
jury made up of ex-players, former and active coaches, club presidents and CEOs, referees, agents, and other football stakeholders will decide the final winners from official shortlists generated by an international fan-led voting process.
Liverpool’s Salah led the public vote and is joined by, among others, Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva. Other contenders include Harry Kane, Mbappe and his international teammate Antoine Griezmann, VFB Stuttgart’s prolific forward Serhou Guirassy, Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez, and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Bellingham – the latter of whom is also nominated for the Emerging Player award.
Ten clubs from six of Europe’s top leagues are vying for Best Men’s Club, with Real Madrid leading the fan vote. Fellow LALIGA sides Barcelona and Girona, undefeated Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, Europa League winners Atalanta, Serie A champions Inter Milan, and English duo Arsenal and Manchester City, as well PSG and Sporting, compri
se the other contenders.
The coaches of all but one of the 10 teams shortlisted for Best Men’s Club are also in the running for Best Coach.
Source: Emirates News Agency