Novak Djokovic receives Globe Sports Award from Cristiano Ronaldo
NewsTuesday, 30 December 2025 at 00:00
Two of the most significant stars in sports history united when Novak Djokovic received an award from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Many consider Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to be the best footballers ever. The pair competed against each other for many years in Spain at Real Madrid and Barcelona, but Ronaldo has played in Saudi Arabia for the last few years.
At the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Ronaldo was named the Middle East player for the third consecutive year. That is not surprising because of his quality, but also because his influence in the region.
Previous editions of the awards only included football-related honors. However, that changed this year with the introduction of the Globe Sports Award to recognize someone who has delivered excellence beyond a single sport.
Djokovic received that honor, and Ronaldo was on stage to hand him the award. That moment, evidently a special one for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, can be seen in the video below.
After being given the award, Djokovic admitted he was shocked, but humbled. The Serbian also mentioned that he and Ronaldo are friends, and have inspired each other to be better despite playing different sports.
"It is a great surprise. I am always caught off guard, but in a positive way. Receiving this from Ronaldo is a dream come true. I am thankful to call him a friend and someone who always inspires."
"We are not part of the same sport, but we push each other. Standing here together and talking about how sport can inspire children around the world is something we look forward to."
Djokovic's extraordinary career has undoubtedly inspired millions of children worldwide. He is the most statistically successful player ever, and continues to perform at a high level despite being 38.
Novak Djokovic opened up about how his relationship with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal evolved
When Novak Djokovic emerged as a young player, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were the dominant forces on the ATP Tour. Some thought that the duo was destined to dominate men's tennis for the long term.
Rather than be daunted by that task, Djokovic remained outwardly confident and never hid his ambition to be better than them. That particularly irritated Federer, but Nadal was also not friendly to Djokovic.
In an interview with Slaven Bilic, Djokovic recounted how Federer and Nadal were cold to him. The former world No. 1 insisted that it never came from him, and he accepted their actions without making a fuss.
Read also
Djokovic said that Federer and Nadal ultimately grew warmer before their retirements, and he accepted this without question. The trio, widely considered the best players ever, now get along quite well, even if the Serbian is not yet close friends with either of his former rivals.
In contrast to that evolution, Djokovic has been open about his relationships with the younger players being better from the start. Remembering being coldly received by Federer, especially, might have influenced his efforts to support the next generation despite competing against them.
Popular News
Just In
Loading
