Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema wins Ballon d’Or 2022 for incredible 2021-22 season, 1st Frenchman since Zidane’s 1998 award
%20(24).jpeg "Karim Benzema won the Ballon d'Or 2022 award.")
Karim Benzema won the Ballon d'Or 2022 award.
Karim Benzema won the men's Ballon d'Or 2022 award in Paris on Monday to cap off an incredible 2021-22 European football season. The Real Madrid striker also became the first Frenchman to claim the award since Zinedine Zidane did in 1998. Benzema led Madrid to the Champions League and La Liga titles last season.
BREAKING: Karim Benzema has won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time after a brilliant season with Real Madrid capped by the Champions League and Spanish league titles. https://t.co/UWT3omGrO2 pic.twitter.com/ddo1ZfcUDO
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) October 17, 2022
He scored 44 goals in 46 matches, including 15 in the Champions League. Some of the 34-year-old's major exploits included a 17-minute second-half hat-trick against PSG in the round of 16 of the Champions League, and then another away vs Chelsea in the quarter-final first leg. He also found the back of the net thrice over both legs of the semi-final fixture against Manchester City.
He was named UEFA Player of the Year in August of this year. He has also made his way back into the national team after being frozen out for five and a half years due to a sex tape blackmail scandal involving Mathieu Valbuena. He will be hoping to lead France's FIFA World Cup title defense this year.
%20(25).jpeg "Karim Benzema won the Ballon d'Or 2022 award.")
Cristiano Ronaldo finished a poor 20th, along with Tottenham's Harry Kane (21st). Last year's Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi wasn't even nominated this time after a disappointing debut season with PSG. Other than Benzema, three other Real Madrid players made it to the Ballon d'Or list; Vinicius Jr, Luka Modric, Thibaut Courtois, and Casemiro (17th, now at Manchester United). Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez came in 12th place and Luis Diaz ranked 17th in the standings. Also, young Phil Foden finished in 22nd position, with Manchester City teammate Bernardo Silva in 22nd.
Barcelona's Gavi won the Kopa Trophy and Alexia Putellas successfully defended her Women's Ballon d'Or award.
Greatest league in the world?
La Liga wasting no time in drawing attention to the league’s success.
Premier League needs to step up - Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 the last man to win the Ballon d’Or while playing in England.
Your last 5⃣ Ballon d'Or winners...
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) October 17, 2022
...anyone notice a pattern? 👀#LaLigaSantander | #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/y8iaRDny2D