Salah and Haaland among top stars shortlisted for KAFD Globe Soccer Awards

Following an intense six-day public vote, 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 are among the 12 stars shortlisted for Best Men’s Player at Tuesday’s KAFD Globe Soccer Awards Europe.

The glittering gala on May 28 at the luxurious Hotel Cala di Volpe in Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, will attract many of European football’s biggest names as the sport congregates for the launch of the continental expansion of the annual Dubai Globe Soccer Awards. 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 global event in the UAE.

Ahead of the first KAFD Globe Soccer Awards Europe, which will also include the first, in-person, end-of-season La Liga 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.

For Best Men’s Player, 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.

Recognising the best player aged 21 and under, Bellingham is joined on the shortlist by Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who led the public vote, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. Other shortlisted names include Yamal’s Barca teammate Pau Cubarsí, Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, English duo Rico Lewis and Kobbie Mainoo, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, Benfica midfield sensation Joao Neves, and PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery.

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, comprise 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, with the public vote favouring Bologna’s Thiago Motta – who left the club last week after guiding his side into next season’s UEFA Champions League – over PSG’s double-winning Luis Enrique. After steering his side to the Bundesliga title without losing a single game, Xabi Alonso of Leverkusen led the fan vote ahead of Carlo Ancelotti, Mikel Arteta, Simone Inzaghi, and Rúben Amorim.

The public vote favoured Barcelona in the category of Best Woman’s Club, with the Champions League winners now being joined by fellow finalists Lyon, Spanish rivals Real Madrid, English duo Chelsea and Manchester City, and Italy’s AS Roma. The highly anticipated evening will also see special career awards presented to deserving players and coaches, along with specific recognitions for major European leagues

The historic evening will open with the highly anticipated official La Liag awards, celebrating the excellence of the Spanish top flight’s 2023-24 season. La Liga will announce the winners of four categories: Best Goal, Best Player, Best Coach, and Best U23 Player, as well as presenting special awards for Team of the Season and the official LALIGA Champion, which will be presented to Real Madrid.