Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, winner of the Champions League, was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the first time.
Mane and De Bruyne on the podium
The 34-year-old Frenchman received the award on Monday in Paris, beating Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane and Belgian Manchester City Kevin De Bruyne. Benzema is the first Frenchman to win the award after Zinedine Zidane in 1998.
KARIM BENZEMA IS THE BALLOON D’OR 2022! ✨@Benzema@Real Madrid#Golden Ball pic.twitter.com/TXLkHJIhJM
– Golden Ball #ballondor (@francefootball) October 17, 2022
Again the best female player of Putella
Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona has once again received the women’s Ballon d’Or, the Spaniard is currently absent due to a ruptured cruciate ligament she suffered shortly before the European Championships in the summer.
Good night people! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/bjwO9HaPBg
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 17, 2022
Benzema impresses with last minute goals
David Alaba’s teammate Benzema excelled in Madrid’s premier class triumph last season. He has scored ten of his 15 premier-class goals in the knockout stages, starting with his hat-trick in the round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain. In the quarter-final second leg against Chelsea, the Frenchman secured qualification with his extra time goal. In the semi-finals, Manchester City scored three more goals with an extra-time penalty to reach the final.
Benzema succeeds Messi
Last year, Lionel Messi won the award ahead of Robert Lewandowski, who drew great criticism internationally. The Golden Ball does not replace the choice of the world footballer. This will continue to be organized by FIFA. From 2010 to 2015, the world footballer was awarded the Ballon d’Or thanks to the collaboration between FIFA and “France Football”.
This time the award for the best U21 player went to the Spaniard Gavi of FC Barcelona. Mane received the Socrates Award for his social commitment. He received the award for projects in his homeland of Senegal.
(Those: APA)
