Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema has won the Ballon d’Or – awarded to the best footballer of the year – for the first time.
Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games as he helped Real win the Champions League and La Liga in 2021-22.
Lionel Messi (seven) and Cristiano Ronaldo (five) won the award on 12 of the last 13 occasions.
Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane, who is at Liverpool in 2021-22, was second ahead of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
Barcelona’s Alexia Potelis retained the Women’s Ballon d’Or, awarded to the best female footballer of 2022.
England Euro 2022 winners and Arsenal forward Beth Meade finished second.
Premier League champions Manchester City, who had six nominees at the ceremony, were awarded Club of the Year ahead of Liverpool.
The Ballon d’Or is awarded to the Footballer of the Year based on performance in the 2021–22 season.
First Frenchman to Win the Prize Since 1998
French F1 driver Esteban Ocon arrived in a racing car at the Théâtre du Chatelet with the Ballon d’Or trophy at Monday’s ceremony in Paris.
Benzema is the first Frenchman to win the award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.
“I’m really proud to have this award in front of me,” Benzema said. “When I was little, it was a childhood dream, I never gave up, anything is possible.
“I’m really proud of my journey here. It hasn’t been easy, it’s been a tough time for my family as well.”
Benzema was a strong favorite to win this year’s award.
His 44 goals included a 17th-minute hat-trick against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and another against Chelsea in the quarter-final first leg.
He also scored three more goals over the two legs of the semi-final against Manchester City.
The 34-year-old, who has been at Real Madrid since 2009, is expected to play a key role for France at the World Cup, which starts in Qatar on November 20.
100 journalists from around the world vote for the Ballon d’Or.
🏆 #BALLONDOR 2022! 🏆
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 17, 2022
🔝 @Benzema pic.twitter.com/LHcQqJwvns
