Frenchman and Real Madrid star Karim Benzema has won the Ballon d’Or in Paris. He relegated Sadio Mané, Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski to the places behind him.
The 34-year-old had been nominated nine times before, but it was only this year that the Real Madrid striker came out on top. Benzema also spoke of the best day of his life – asking his mother and son s to join him on stage.
Benzema invites his mum and his son on stage ballondor pic.twitter.com/gSWqtL6ZaO
– Ballon d’Or ballondor (@francefootball) October 17, 2022
2021 Lionel Messi had walked away with the prize.
Like last year, FC Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas was Player of the Year. The 28-year-old is a midfielder and captain at FC Barcelona and the first female footballer to win the second Ballon d’Or of her career.
– Alexia Putellas (@alexiaputellas) October 17, 2022
Alexia Putellas is currently unable to play after tearing her cruciate ligament.
Second place went to Britain’s Beth Mead.
For the second time, Robert Lewandowski, who now plays for FC Barcelona, received the Gerd Müller Award for the season’s top scorer.
The ceremony took place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.