Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema on Monday won the 2022 Ballon d’Or for the first time and also became the first Frenchman to claim the award since Zinedine Zidane did in 1998.
Gatekeepers News reports that Benzema was crowned in a ceremony in Paris ahead of Sadio Mane in second and Kevin De Bruyne in third.
Benzema is also the oldest Ballon D’Or winner since Stanley Matthews won the first edition of the prize in 1956.
The Frenchman was the standout performer for Los Blancos as they won LaLiga and claimed another Champions League crown. Benzema scored 44 times – the highest single-season tally of his career – as he continues to blossom at the age of 34, becoming just the fifth man from his country to win the prestigious accolade.
The former Lyon man, who signed for Madrid in 2009, had for much of his career played second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo, but has flourished as his side’s main man in recent years.
Benzema, after receiving the award, said: “This prize in front of me, makes me really proud. When I was young, I never gave up, it was a childhood dream. I had the motivation, I had two role models in my life in Zidane and Ronaldo. I had always had this dream that everything is possible. There was a period where I wasn’t in the French team but I never stopped working, I’m really proud of my journey here and it was not easy.
“It was also a difficult time for my family, to be here, my first time, I’m happy and I’m going to keep going. I want to thank all my teammates at Real Madrid and the national team, my coach, the Real Madrid president. I always had the support from Jean-Michel Aulas (Lyon president). The Ballon d’Or is an individual prize but it is still a collective one for everyone who’s helped me win it.”
Meanwhile, Alexia Putellas retains her title as the world’s best women’s player.
“I’m very happy to be back here,” Putellas said. “Winning last year pushed me to want to be even better. Without my teammates, this wouldn’t have been possible. I want to thank the coaches and technical staff who help me to improve every day.”
