Glitzy gala, supported by the Dubai Sports Council, will take place on December 27
First round of polling decided the shortlist and saw double votes cast as last year
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By SAM LAWLEY
Published: 05:36 EST, 28 November 2024 | Updated: 05:36 EST, 28 November 2024
A whopping 70 million votes have been cast in the Beyond Developments Globe Soccer Dubai Awards with 10 days of polling still to go, equalling last year's record figure already.
The competition will take place alongside the 19th Dubai International Sports Conference, at Atlantis, The Palm in partnership and support with Dubai Sports Council, on December 27.
Four Premier League stars - Rodri, Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah - have made it into the shortlist of 18 competitors vying for the Best Men's Player prize at the glittering gala after half of the league's representation was cut following the first round of voting.
Polling opened two weeks ago to football fans across the world. They have until December 10 to have their say and the winners will be determined by a combination of fan votes and the Globe Soccer Jury, made up of legendary names such as Marcello Lippi, Francesco Totti, Iker Casillas and Luis Figo.
Last year, some 70 million people from more than 225 countries and territories cast their vote.
But this figure has already been matched just halfway into the ballot period this time round as fans look to have their say on the players of the year from both the men and women's games.
A record 70 million votes have already been cast to decide the world's best players at the Beyond Developments Globe Soccer Dubai Awards with Balon d'Or winner Rodri in contention
Cole Palmer is one of the hottest talents in the world and has made it into the final shortlist
Mohamed Salah is also in the final 18 as the Egyptian keeps bagging goals for fun at Liverpool
The first period of polling closed on Monday and more than twice as many votes were cast as at the same point last year.
Fans' votes, received from more than 200 countries across the world, helped determine the finalists across eight of the 12 main categories.
Additionally, the Globe Soccer mobile app has surpassed 1.5 million downloads, underlining the event's global appeal.
Man City's Rodri will be hoping to replicate his triumph at the Ballon d'Or in Paris last month after winning the Premier League with his club and Euro 2024 with Spain.
His teammate Haaland scooped up the prize in Dubai in 2023 and is in with a shout this year after bagging 34 goals.
Palmer, meanwhile, carried Chelsea on his back last campaign before scoring a memorable goal in the Euro final against Spain. He already has seven goals in 11 Premier League appearances this season.
Salah's future at Liverpool might be uncertain but his importance to Arne Slot's side is not, as the winger's goals helped the Reds come back from 2-1 down against Southampton on the weekend to secure three points and surge eight points clear at the top of the league.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior has been offered up an opportunity to put his Ballon d'Or snub behind him and end the season with some silverware.
Last year's winner Erling Haaland has continued his form in front of goal and is in with a shout
Meanwhile Vinicius Junior can make up for his Balon d'Or snub with a memorable win in Dubai
The men's player of the year award features stars from seven leagues and will be given on Dec 27
Two English stars will be hoping to receive the women's player of the year award next month
After news broke earlier on the day of the Paris ceremony that the selection panel had chosen Rodri as their victor, Real Madrid and Vinicius decided to pull the plug on their trip to the gala, held at the Theatre du Chatelet.
The Spanish giants had hoped that if their Brazilian forward was not given the nod, right-back Dani Carvajal might be handed the gong after winning La Liga, the Champions League and the Euros.
But when it was leaked today that the Man City man was in fact the winner, Real reacted furiously and not a single club representative was there to watch their team win several honours at the event and their players place highly in the main list.
Carvajal is also in contention at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards along with teammate and England international Jude Bellingham who secured a league and Champions League double with Los Blancos last season.
Old stalwarts Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, winners of seven men's player of the year awards at the Dubai event over the years, also make the shortlist for their perfomances at Inter Miami and Al Nassr respectively.
As for best women's player, Aitana Bonmati will be aiming to follow up her Ballon d'Or nod with another honour here, while English stars Lucy Bronze and Lauren James will be hoping to spring an upset.
For the official voting page:https://vote.globesoccer.com