Cristiano Ronaldo’s former teammate who wants to take away what he loves most

The football world turns its eyes to Dubai for the next edition of the 2025 Globe Soccer Awards, which will be held on Sunday, December 28 at the luxurious Atlantis The Royal hotel. In this 16th edition of the prestigious event, the category of Best Middle Eastern Player has captured all the attention, posing a direct duel full of nostalgia and competitiveness.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the current holder of the title and the only player to have won this award since its inception in 2023, faces a familiar threat. Among the nominees is his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, who is looking to dethrone the Portuguese star in the region where both now shine.

The stars Cristiano Ronaldo competes with

The road to the award will not be easy for the Al-Nassr captain. In addition to Benzema (Al-Ittihad), the list of contenders includes the likes of Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal), N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad) and Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli).

This dispute is marked by several players who were figures in European soccer and who now make their careers in a league with less spotlight, but which is slowly growing, thus marking a new era in soccer.

Despite the stiff competition, Ronaldo’s numbers in 2025 are still astonishing:

• He has scored 30 goals and provided three assists in 34 games played during the calendar year.
• He led the Saudi Pro League scoring charts in the last two seasons, setting a record of 35 goals in the 2023-24 campaign.
• In the current season, he has been a key player in Al-Nassr’s perfect run of nine consecutive league victories.

An award that will depend on the fans

The final decision is in the hands of the fans, as this is one of the nine categories open to the worldwide public vote.

Although Ronaldo has yet to lift a major trophy with Al-Nassr, his individual impact and ability to revolutionize the Saudi league keep him as the heavy favorite to retain his distinction at the Dubai gala.

There is no doubt that there will be great nostalgia on the part of the fans who vote for this award, as they will have to choose between great figures who were top in Europe and who are now slowly reaching the end of their careers.