What are the Globe Soccer Awards? History of football prize and how it compares to Ballon d'Or

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi amongst the previous winners as well as the pool of nominees for this year's gala, the Globe Soccer Awards are hoping to bridge the gap between the Ballon d'Or and the rest of global football's prize-giving.

Founded in 2010, the Globe Soccer Awards includes an annual gala in Dubai to recognize the best players, coaches, executives, and more from the previous calendar year.

Despite still trying to shake the biases of its roots a bit, the Globe Soccer Awards are gaining recognition as they add not only the presence and nomination of the best in the world, but also the partnership of many superstars as part of the panel to select the nominees and winners.

The Sporting News reviews where the Globe Soccer Awards came from and how they will determine winners in the 2024 edition.

MORE: All the 2024 Globe Soccer Award nominees | Where to watch the ceremony

What are the Globe Soccer Awards?

Founded in 2010, the Globe Soccer Awards are organized by their namesake, Globe Soccer. The gala has taken place every January in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to recognize the most prominent figures in the world of football.

The awards were founded by famed agent Jorge Mendes along with Italian businessmen Riccardo Silva and Tommaso Bendoni. Mendes has won the Best Agent category in 11 of the 13 years of its existence.

"At the heart of Globe Soccer's mission is a commitment to honoring all facets of the beautiful game," reads the official website. "Their awards celebrate not just players, but the full spectrum of football stakeholders, from chairmen and agents to directors and referees."

To recognize the best across the world of football in the 2024 calendar year, the Globe Soccer Awards will hold its next iteration of the ceremony earlier than usual, on December 27, in Dubai.

2024 Globe Soccer Award categories

A winner will be named in each of the following 12 categories:

• Best Men's player (33 nominees)
• Best Midfielder (11 nominees)
• Best Forward (10 nominees)
• Best Women's player (20 nominees)
• Best Men's club (12 nominees)
• Best Women's club (5 nominees)
• Best Coach (9 nominees, all in men's football)
• Best Emerging player (10 nominees, all men)
• Best Agent (7 nominees)
• Best Sporting Director (6 nominees)
• Best Middle Eastern player (7 nominees)
• Best Middle East club (5 nominees)

How are the Globe Soccer Awards winners decided?

The winners of the awards are decided by a vote — or, rather, two votes. There is a fan poll, which closes on November 25, and a jury vote, which runs from November 28 to December 10.

The nominees with the most votes from global fans will proceed to the second round. At the end of this voting period, the figures with the biggest level of support — the jury's vote counts for 80 per cent of the final calculation, and the initial public vote the other 20 percent — will win the awards. Those winners will then be announced at the gala on December 27.

However, only eight of the categories are decided in this way. These are:

Best Men's Player
Best Women's Player
Best Men's Club
Best Women's Club
Best Coach
Emerging Player
Best Middle East Player
Best Middle East Club

Who is on the Globe Soccer Awards jury?

The individuals involved in selecting the nominees and finalists for the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards are wide-ranging from across the football landscape.

The 28-person "jury", as they call it, hail from across the globe in various aspects of the game. From world-renowned current and former players and coaches, club executives, referees, government officials, businessmen, and more, the following are the individuals tasked with selecting the nominees and winners of this year's awards.

You will notice that, likely thanks to the individuals who founded the annual awards, there is a significant Italian and Portuguese presence in the jury pool.