Japanese football icon Hidetoshi Nakata has been honoured with the prestigious Globe Soccer Career Award at the 2025 Globe Soccer Awards ceremony held in Dubai on Sunday, December 28, 2025, Softfootball reports.
The award was presented by former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello, recognising Nakata’s immense contribution to world football and his trailblazing role for Asian players on the global stage.
Nakata, a former midfielder, is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers to emerge from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). During the late 1990s and early 2000s, he enjoyed a highly successful career in Europe, particularly in Italy, where he played for clubs such as Perugia, AS Roma, Parma, Bologna, Fiorentina, and Bolton Wanderers.
He made history as the first-ever AFC player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or, a milestone that opened doors for future generations of Asian footballers. Beyond his achievements on the pitch, Nakata became a global ambassador for Japanese and Asian football, combining technical excellence with professionalism and cultural influence.
The 2025 Globe Soccer Awards ceremony celebrated several other notable winners, including Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid Désiré Doué, who won the Emerging Player Award, Jorge Mendes, named Best Football Agent, and Aitana Bonmatí, who claimed Best Women’s Player.
Late Diogo Jota was also posthumously honoured with a special Globe Soccer Award, as Nakata’s Career Award stands as a powerful tribute to a player who not only excelled at the highest level but also reshaped perceptions of Asian football worldwide.
