Karim Benzema wins Best Player title as Real dominate Globe Soccer Awards

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter

Real Madrid made a clean sweep at the Globe Soccer Awards by winning the Best Club, Best Coach and the Best Player Awards in Dubai on Thursday.

Real won the Spanish League title and lifted the Champions League crown by beating Liverpool in the final under the coach Carlo Ancelotti. It was the second time in three years that Real won the domestic title. They were so clinical in their campaign that they had wrapped up the title with four rounds to spare.

Ancelotti was conferred the honour for guiding Real to the Champions and La Liga double. Real’s Karim Benzema, who bagged the Best Player of the Year Award, had to face a tough competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who were also nominated for the Best Player.

There was a tough fight among three for the prestigious prize. But it was Benzema, who emerged victorious for his exploits with Spanish giants Real. Benzema scored 44 goals and gave 15 assists in 46 appearances across all the competition in the year 2021/22.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real, Benzema has been the driving force in their pursuit of the trophies. He almost single-handedly steered them to the Champions League final and the Spanish League title.

Real’s path to the Champions title showdown was not an easy one as they played defending champions Chelsea, last year’s finalist Manchester City and French Champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Benzema, who was often overshadowed by his erstwhile team-mate Ronaldo, has become the most important cog in the wheel of Real’s success juggernaut.

Benzema has scored 86 goals in the continental championship is fourth on the list of highest goal scorer after Ronaldo (140), Lionel Messi (127) and Robert Lewandowski (91). He also won the Ballon D’ Or for his contribution in the success of Real.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah, who has been among the top scorers of the world year by year, guided Liverpool to the Champion League final. The Premier League giants were defeated by Real in the final to miss the title by a whisker.

But they finished second in the Premier League behind Champions Manchester City. But they kept hot on the heels of City as the battle for the title went down to the wire.

With the defeat, Liverpool’s hopes of quadruple trophies vanished in the year. They had already won English Cup and FA Cup and were on course for a quadruple title with Champions League and Premier League crowns in pipeline. Mohamed Salah was the captain of the Klopp’s ship throughout the campaign.

Manchester City was also nominated for the Best Coach, Best Player and the Best Club Award. City have been a dominant force in the Premier League. They have lifted the League crown for a record five times in the last ten years under Pep Guardiola.

Haaland, who made his move to the Manchester Club from Germany’s Dortmund, has mobilized the City campaign. He has been dubbed as goal machine. Haaland has scored 18 Premier League goals in 12 games since arriving at City in the summer.

Alex Puttela of Barcelona women’s team bagged the award for the Best Female Player of the Year. The other contenders in the category were Linda Caicedo and Beth Mead. Aston Villa manager Unia Emery was given the Coach Career Award.

“I am delighted to win this trophy and I am feeling honoured,” said Emery after getting the trophy.

Jorge Mendis once again claimed the Manager of the Year for the third time in a row. Olympique Lyonnais Féminin won the Best Female Club of the Year title for their exploits.

Benfica of Portugal clinched the Best Youth Team prize for the putting up a stellar show throughout the season and winning youth title. Power Horse Emerging Player of the Year went to Victor Osimhen. He is a Nigerian player and plies his trade in the French League for Napoli. He scored 12 goals in nine games.

Wayne Rooney was honoured with the Player Career Awards. Rooney is regarded one of the best footballers to have graced the game of football. Rooney was a driving force at the Manchester United during the time of Sir Alex Ferguson.

“I am thankful to Globe Soccer Awards for honouring me. I love coming to Dubai,” said Rooney.

Serbian footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is known for his bicycle kicks, was conferred with Career Award. Mohamed Salah of Liverpool was voted as Fan’s Player of the Year.

Salah has been one of the most important players in the plans of coach Jorgen Klopp. Both Liverpool and Salah missed Premier League and Champions League titles.