Real Madrid captain and goal poacher, Karim Benzema was last night declared as the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or award ahead of Manchester City star, Kevin De Brunye and former Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane.
The Frenchman picked the award after a spectacular season up-front for Real Madrid, spearheading their attack as they won LaLiga and the Champions League in 2022.
Benzema had in the season under scored 44 goals in 46 games for his club Real Madrid with 15 of those goals coming in the Champions League.
Benzema was also crowned as the Champions League top scorer, La Liga top scorer and UEFA Player of the Year.
Coincidentally, the award was presented by former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane came second behind Benzema.
Sadio Mane received France Football’s first ever Socrates Award, in recognition of his charity work in his native Senegal.
Mane, 30, is renowned for making headlines on the pitch, but his continued efforts off the field have continued to make a huge difference everywhere.
Read Also: Benzema Announced Winner Of UEFA Player Of The Year
Nigeria’s first and only representative, Asisat Oshoala finished 16th in the women’s Ballon d’Or best player list.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne came third and Robert Lewandowski came fourth.
Benzema was also crowned as the Champions League’s top scorer, La Liga’s top scorer, and UEFA Player of the Year.
The 34-year-old, who joined Barcelona from Bayern Munich in the close season, scored 57 goals in 56 matches for club and country last term.
Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year running on Monday, the reward coming after a season in which she was the top scorer as her club Barcelona reached the Champions League final.
Below is the full list of all winners during the 2022 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony as compiled by Africa Today News, New York:
Kopa trophy (best player under 21) – Barcelona’s Gavi.
Best Striker of the Year award (the Gerd Müller Award) – Lewandoski
Women’s Ballon d’Or 2022 – Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas
Yachine Trophy 2022 – Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois.
Men’s Ballon d’Or 2022 – Benzema.
Socrates Prize – Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane.
Club of the Year award – Manchester City.