Winning the Nations League for the second time, repeating the success achieved in 2019 thanks to the triumph in the final over Spain (in a penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw), will have weighed heavily on the award, which was received by the president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), Pedro Proença.

"It was a very special year. We lost two great legends in Portugal, Jorge Costa and Diogo Jota. The second half was fantastic for Portuguese football, because we were in six international finals and won five. We continue to create talent, we have the best player in the world, the best agent and it's fantastic that such a small country continues to create so much talent," said Pedro Proença.

Diogo Jota's parents took to the stage to receive a special award given by the Globe Soccer Awards organisers to the former Liverpool player, who died on 3 July 2025, aged 28, as a result of a road accident in Spain that also killed his brother, 25-year-old André Silva.

"Diogo was important to Portuguese football. Our captain, Cristiano [Ronaldo], and all the players, Jorge Mendes, have felt this loss a lot, but we'll carry on and Jota will always be in our minds, we'll keep him with us and I think next year we'll give Portuguese football a very good memory," said Pedro Proença, referring to Portugal's participation in the World Cup2026.

According to the Lusa news agency, Portuguese international Vitinha was another outstanding figure at the 16th edition of the Globe Soccer Awards, beating compatriot João Neves, a fellow PSG player, England's Cole Palmer (Chelsea) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) and Spain's Pedri (Barcelona) in the race for the best midfielder of the year award.

Vitinha didn't have the same success in the voting for the main award, for best player of 2025, which went to Dembélé - winner of the Ballon d'Or and The Best - although, contradictorily, he was passed over for best striker, which went to Spanish FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

French champions and, for the first time, European champions in 2025, PSG were honoured as the best club and Spanish coach Luis Enrique was named best coach of the year, while João Neves was once again beaten by another teammate, young Désiré Doué, in the emerging player category.

Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo, a striker for Al Nassr, was voted the best player in the Middle East for the third year running, while Luís Campos (PSG) beat Deco (FC Barcelona) to the award for best sporting director and Jorge Mendes was once again named the best agent.

The FC Barcelona team, which includes Portuguese international Kika Nazareth, was voted the best in women's football and Spain's Aitana Bonmatí, the Catalans' most influential player, was honoured as the best footballer of the year, with Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic receiving the last award of the night, the first Globe Sports Award.