Ali Mabkhout was the big winner at the annual UAE Pro League Awards, scooping three prizes during Monday's ceremony at Emirates Palace.
The Al Jazira and UAE international forward won the Golden Ball for the Emirati players as well as the Golden Shoe after topping the 2020/21 league scoring charts with 25 goals to help the Abu Dhabi club clinch a third UAE league title.
Mabkhout, 30, was also named in the Pro League Dream Team.
“It indeed is nice to receive some awards for individual performances but these awards won’t be meaningful if the team doesn’t win,” Mabkhout said.
“I’m delighted we won the league and hopefully [UAE] earn a spot in the 2022 World Cup, inshallah.
“Football is also a team game and I was very fortunate to have the support and assistance from fellow players on the pitch to score all those goals. It was great to win the league and hopefully we can do it again.”
Joao Pedro won the Golden Ball award for foreign players after helping his side Baniyas finish runner-up in the league.
“I am happy to receive this award and it obviously will have a special place in my trophy cupboard,” the Brazilian forward said.
Collecting a couple of awards on the night was the veteran Al Wahda forward Ismail Matar.
He won the Fans’ Player of the Year award and for the best goal of the season prize against Shabab Al Ahli.
The newly introduced Golden Ball Award for the best young player (resident or born in UAE) went to Shabab Al Ahli's Igor Jesus, and the Golden Boy Award for the best young Emirati player went to Al Wasl's Ali Saleh.
Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif received the Golden Glove Award and Marcel Keizer the Best Manager.
