Al Ain stars Palacios, Laba, Rahimi shortlisted for Golden Ball Award

The UAE Pro League has unveiled the finalists for its 2025-26 Season Awards, with the winners set to be announced at a ceremony on August 10 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi.

Football fans will be watching closely as three prominent Al Ain stars – Matias Palacios, Kodjo Laba, and Soufian Rahimi – compete for the prestigious Golden Ball Award, recognizing the league's Best Player. Their club, Al Ain, also features prominently in other categories, with Vladimir Ivic nominated for Best Coach and Kodjo Laba having already secured the Golden Shoe for top scorer with 25 goals.

Other key awards include the Golden Glove for Best Goalkeeper, where Al Ain's Khalid Eissa is a finalist alongside goalkeepers from Shabab Al Ahli and Al Wahda. The Golden Boy Award for Best U23 Player will see competition from Al Ain's Abdulkarim Trawri and El Houssein Rahimi, facing off against Al Nasr's Abdoulaye Toure. The Fans' Player of the Year award also includes Al Ain's Rami Rabiea and Soufian Rahimi.

Beyond individual accolades, the league is also recognizing club achievements. Al Wasl, Al Nasr, and Al Ain are finalists for the Club Licensing and Professionalism Award, while Bani Yas, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra are in contention for the Fan Attendance Award. The ceremony will also unveil the Dream Team, highlighting the season's best XI.

Preparations for the upcoming season were also discussed at a recent UAE Pro League Season Launch Workshop in Abu Dhabi. CEO Musab Al Marzooqi emphasized the importance of thorough preparation, stating, "The real start of the season is our preparation. The better we prepare, the higher the quality of our competitions and the better the experience we deliver to clubs, fans and partners."

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The real start of the season is our preparation. The better we prepare, the higher the quality of our competitions and the better the experience we deliver to clubs, fans and partners.