INTERNATIONAL: Strikers Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe scooped the main trophies on offer at a glitzy Dubai Globe Soccer Awards ceremony on Monday. Hosted at the foot of the Burj Khalifa, Bayern Munich's Polish forward Lewandowski was named the TikTok Fans Player of the Year as well the Diego Maradona Award winner for top goal scorer.
France and PSG forward Kylian Mbappe bagged the Men's Player of the Year trophy, while Alexia Putellas, on hand to receive Barcelona's trophy for Women's Team of the Year, took home the women's honour.
Mbappe says, "It's a big pleasure to see all the big players here, the big legends, and the big names in football. It's a big achievement for me. I want to say thank you to my club Paris Saint-Germain, who believe in me these five years, even better this season. To my national team, to all the people who nobody knows, who work with me or for me, who help me a lot. To my family, they are there with me, always with me. It's a big pleasure to be here. It's a big motivation to keep working hard and maybe come back next year and to win again so many titles, individually and collectively. Thank you and have a good night."
Lewandowski says, "Yeah, I have to say that, I want to say thank you to all fans who vote on me, and who support me every single day because that means a lot. Even the last years, the last two years, that playing without the fans, the last months in Germany, we play without the fans, it's so difficult and a big challenge for us, and I know what does it mean to play with the fans. That is something special. That's why we are playing, so that's why we are training so hard, to play in the big stadiums with them, so many fans as possible, and the last months was so hard for us, but even that, I want to thank you, all of the fans that they support everything every single day. I want to say thank you to my family, and they are with me, also with my friends."
Cristiano Ronaldo, preparing for a trip to Newcastle with Manchester United during the ceremony, received the Top Goal Scorer of All-time accolade, while former Brazilian legend Ronaldinho's career was celebrated with a special award. European champions Italy won the National Team of the Year award, with Italians Roberto Mancini the Coach of the Year and Leonardo Bonucci and Gianluigi Donnarumma the defender and goalkeeper of the year respectively. Champions League winners Chelsea were named Men's Club of the Year.
