The Ballon d'Or 2022 ceremony has not reserved any surprises, as Karim Benzema has won the prestigious trophy for the first time in his career. The French striker was unstoppable last season, scoring 44 goals in 46 games, helping Real Madrid win the Champions League and La Liga. In 12 of the past 13 editions of the Ballon d'Or, the trophy has been won by Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane came second in the award winner's rankings, with Kevin de Bruyne in third place. Barcelona's Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or, while Arsenal striker Beth Mead finished second. Premier League champions Manchester City took home the club of the year trophy.
Benzema was the first French player to lift the Ballon d'Or trophy since 1998, when the winner was Zinedine Zidane. The latter was present at the ceremony and presented Benzema with the award. After the triumph, the Real Madrid forward expressed his excitement:
"The trophy in front of me makes me very proud. When I was little, it was a childhood dream. I never gave up. Everything is possible. I am very proud of my journey this far. It has not been easy, it has been a very difficult period for my family as well."
The 34-year-old has been part of Real Madrid since 2009. Benzema is expected to play a key role in the French national team, on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar, which is only 1 month away.
Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski was ranked fourth in the list of nominees, while Liverpool's Egyptian Mohamed Salah was ranked fifth.
