Breaking: Karim Benzema wins 2022 Ballon d’Or.
The French and Real Madrid Talisman, Karim Benzema has won the 2021-2022 Ballon d’Or award in an event which held at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
The award was presented to him by his fellow French man and football legend, Zinedine Zidane.
Benzema edged out closest rivals, Sadio Mané, Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski who were all ranked second, third and fourth respectively.
Expectedly, the french man played a huge role in Real Madrid’s incredible Champions League triumph last season where he scored 15 goals in just 12 games including hat-tricks against both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
For the season under review, Benzema, who won Champions League, La Liga, UEFA Nations League & Supercopa de Espana scored a total number of 48 goals and provided 15 assists.
It will be the first time since 2005 that seven-time winner Leo Messi is not one of the candidates while the five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo who’s among the list finished 20th on the rankings.
Benzema became the fifth Frenchman to win it after Kopa, Platini, Papin and Zidane. The last Frenchman to win it was the latter in 1998.
In the female category, Barcelona forward Alexia Putellas claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or once again. The Spanish superstar won the trophy last year and she has successfully defended her crown