Brazilian legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo de Lima will make their first appearances at the 10th Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai next month after being announced alongside Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mo Salah as nominees for the first-ever Sports Idol Award.

The Kooora Sports Idol Award is one of two footballing awards to be determined by the general public – and with votes flooding in before the deadline of January 1. Messi currently leads the way ahead of the two Brazilians with Cristiano Ronaldo a close second.

The second public vote category is for the first 433 Fans’ Player of the Year Award, which is based on 433’s most liked Instagram posts.

The five nominees are Virgil Van Dijk, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Inter Milan star Marcelo Brozovic.

“While the public vote for the Kooora Sports Idol Award and the first 433 Fans’ Player of the Year Award, our other awards are decided by the Globe Soccer Awards jury,” said Globe Soccer CEO Tommaso Bendoni. “Fans can vote for their favourite players on the 433’s Instagram page and on Kooora.com.”

Title sponsored by Dubai Holding and supported by Meraas, du, Audi and Emirates, the 10th Globe Soccer Awards will feature a star-studded ceremony at Madinat Jumeirah on January 3 following the staging of the 13th Dubai International Sports Conference.

Part of the ‘Grand Slam’ of football award ceremonies alongside the Ballon D’or and The Best FIFA Football Awards, the Globe Soccer Awards recognise not only the best players in the world but also other aspects of the football industry.

In addition to recognising the work of referees, agents and club owners, the evening will also see one of the game’s top managers receive the Coach Career Award from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company.