Novak Djokovic was in the house to celebrate the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, and came away with a distinguished honor all his own. The 38-year-old Grand Slam King was given the Globe Sportsman Award in a special ceremony featuring football icon Ronaldo, who handed him his trophy and delivered effusive praise for the 24-time major champion.
“It’s a great surprise. To be here is a privilege, and receiving an award from another sporting legend is a dream come true,” Djokovic said.
“I’m a big fan of football. I came here to celebrate the incredible year that everyone is having and I was caught off guard, in a positive way. I couldn’t be happier.”
“For me, he is an example,” Ronaldo said on stage. “For me, he is an example in longevity. We have a similar story. I think he deserves this because he is a great example for this generation, all generations, the generation that’s going to come.”
“I’m thankful to call him a friend,” Djokovic said of Ronaldo, “and he is someone who inspires me as well.
“There’s a lot of similarities, a lot of parallels, even though we are not in the same sport we are pushing each other. I think we are also showing future generations that there are no limits.”