Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Real Madrid player Karim Benzema of France won the Ballon d’Or from France Football magazine for the first time in his history as the best football player of 2022.
Benzema, 34, has overtaken 29 candidates, in particular: Sadio Mane from Senegal, Kevin De Bruyne from Belgium, Robert Lewandowski from Poland and Mohamed Salah from Egypt.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony was held on Monday evening at the Théâtre du Chatelet, in the French capital, Paris.
The last French player to win the Ballon d’Or was Zinedine Zidane after the 1998 World Cup.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Belgium won the “Yashen” award for best goalkeeper in 2022, surpassing 9 other goalkeepers.
Spain’s Javi, 18, Barcelona player, won the “Cuba” award as best young player of the year, beating 9 other players, including: Eduardo Camavinga, Good Bellingham, Jamal Musila and Nuno Mendes.
Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski won the “Gerd Muller” award as top scorer in 2022.
Bayern Munich’s Senegalese player Sadio Mane won the Socrates Award for those who engage in charities.
While Alexia Botías of Barcelona won the 2022 Ballon d’Or as best player, for the second consecutive time, having previously won it in 2021.
Manchester City was chosen as the best club of the 2022/2021 season, followed by Liverpool and Real Madrid.
