The Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, the Spanish coach Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid were chosen as the best player, coach, and club of the 21st century

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid coach Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid were chosen as the best player, coach, and club of the 21st century at the Globe Soccer Awards gala held in Dubai, where Iker Casillas and Gerard Piqué received special recognition for their successful careers.

Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Argentine Leo Messi, Brazilian Ronaldinho, and Mohamed Salah in the vote. Present at the luxurious Hotel Armani, the Portuguese star received the award with emotion. "It is beautiful to receive this award. I thank everyone who voted for me, my family, my mom, and my sisters."

"Being nominated alongside great footballers is an honor for me. This motivates me even more. It is incredible that children want to be like me, with the same haircut. I want to see them around the world making the sound when I score a goal," he wished.

The gala left a shared desire for everyone, the return of fans to stadiums once the coronavirus pandemic is overcome. "It is boring to play without an audience," confessed Cristiano. "I don't like playing in empty stadiums. Without fans, football is nothing."

It was the message with which FIFA president Gianni Infantino began the gala, leaving a special tribute to two recently deceased football legends, Argentine Diego Armando Maradona and Italian Paolo Rossi. "Football is the most important thing of the least important things. We remember what it has suffered from the pandemic and how important football is for people," he claimed.

The player of the year award went to Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski, who beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi. "We have only lost one match in 2020 and I have scored many goals. It's not that I'm going to sit at Cristiano and Messi's table, but rather I invite them to sit at my table," he joked.

In the coaching category, the big winner was Pep Guardiola, chosen as the best coach of the century. The current coach of Manchester City beat out Alex Ferguson, Zinedine Zidane, and José Mourinho.

Meanwhile, in the best coach of the year category, the award went to Hans Dieter Flick, coach of Bayern Munich, after his great season crowned with the conquest of the Champions League. In the vote, he surpassed Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and Atalanta coach Mario Gasperini.

Real Madrid was chosen as the best club of the century ahead of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Al Ahly. Two special moments were the recognitions to Iker Casillas and Gerard Piqué for their careers, while Bayern Munich won the award for best club of the year and Jorge Mendes as agent of the century. EFE

🏆 🇵🇹 CRISTIANO RONALDO presented with the PLAYER OF THE CENTURY 2001-2020 Globe Soccer Award@cristiano @dubaisc @juventusfc @selecaoportugal #CristianoRonaldo #CR7 #Bvlgari #globesoccer pic.twitter.com/deK2Qlzuey

🏆 🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo presented with the PLAYER OF THE CENTURY 2001-2020 Globe Soccer Award, by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum — Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, at tonight’s gala pic.twitter.com/DK3B3My5t6