Whenever the debate over the greatest athletes of all time arises, the names Cristiano Ronaldo and Novak Djokovic are inevitably mentioned. On Sunday night, the two aging giants shared the same stage at the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony in Dubai, where the Serbian tennis legend became the first-ever recipient of the ‘Globe Sport’ award, presented to him by none other than Ronaldo himself.
“In my view, he is a symbol of longevity,” said the 40-year-old Portuguese star about Djokovic. “We have a similar story. He deserves this award because he is an example for the previous generation, the current generation and the next generation.”
Ronaldo also received an award on the night, being named Middle East Player of the Year. “I will reach 1,000 goals, for sure, as long as I stay healthy,” said the Al-Nassr star with a smile, after reaching 956 career goals on Saturday.
Djokovic responded to Ronaldo’s remarks by saying, “I am grateful to hear those words from him and to call him a friend. You see someone who has won everything and still wants more. Even though we come from different sports, we can support each other and show future generations that there are no limits.”
The 38-year-old Serbian added: “This award sends a strong message. Sport can change lives. When Cristiano says he will reach 1,000 goals, you see the power of the mind. The mind controls everything.”
Paris Saint-Germain were named Team of the Year for 2025, with their stars collecting multiple individual honors. Ousmane Dembele was named Best Player, Luis Enrique Best Coach, Vitinha Best Midfielder, Desire Doue Best Young Player, and Luis Campos Best Sporting Director. Lamine Yamal, who attended the ceremony, was named Best Attacking Player, while Portugal’s national team won Best National Team.