The National's Sport cover for the Tuesday, December 30 issue, featuring a smiling Carlo Ancelotti on a flawless night for Real Madrid at the 2014 Dubai Football Gala & Globe Soccer Awards.
Gary Meenaghan and John McAuley were at the showcase event at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, where a clean sweep was had by Madrid of the major awards of the evening – best coach to Ancelotti, best player to Cristiano Ronaldo, best revelation player to James Rodriguez, best president to Florentino Perez and, of course, best club.
Detailing the scene at the event, they write:
“He came, he collected and he disappeared as if he were dodging a defender’s last-ditch tackle.
“Cristiano Ronaldo capped off a near-perfect 2014 as he picked up the most coveted trophy at the Dubai Football Gala on Monday night and then vanished into the night almost as quickly as he arrived.
“Ronaldo found himself among familiar faces as his Madrid teammates and staff completed a sweep at the annual awards ceremony.”
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