Official: Benzema Wins 2022 Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award, becoming the first French player to do so since Zinedine Zidane claimed the prestigious prize in 1998.

Furious With PSG? Mbappe Finally Breaks Silence

France Football has announced that Benzema has claimed the award for the first time in his career at the Theatre du Chatelet, pipping the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane to the precious accolade.

The Real Madrid forward enjoyed a spectacular 2021/22 season, during which he contributed to a staggering 59 goals in just 44 appearances across his side's LaLiga and UEFA Champions League-winning campaign.

While several players had made a promising start to that season, it was Benzema's outstanding performances in Europe that made this year's handing out of the award a non-contest, after he scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the Champions League as Real knocked out Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

The Soccer Laduma website has moved to a new digital stadium called SNL24.com. Register on SNL24.com and enjoy not just the soccer news, you'll also get to comment on stories, save articles for later, access weather and traffic alerts for your area, and subscribe to newsletters. 

Benzema followed up those history-making displays with three more goals against Manchester City in their two-legged semi-final, strikes that helped ensure his side's place in the final against Liverpool.

In LaLiga, the 34-year-old claimed the Pichichi Trophy after netting on 27 occasions, while he ended the UCL season with a career-best 15 goals in 12 appearances. 

Ballon d'Or top 10: 

10. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund/Manchester City/Norway)

9. Luka Modric (Real Madrid/Croatia) 

8. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid/Brazil) 

7. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/Belgium) 

6. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/France) 

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt)

4. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Barcelona/Poland) 

3. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Belgium)

2. Sadio Mane (Liverpool/Bayern Munich/Senegal)

1. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/France) 

Other award winners: 

Kopa Trophy (best young player) - Gavi (Barcelona/Spain) 

Socrates Award - Sadio Mane (Liverpool/Bayern Munich/Senegal) 

Women's Ballon d'Or - Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/Spain) 

Gerd Muller Trophy (best striker) - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Barcelona/Poland) 

Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper) - Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/Belgium) 

Club of the Year (club with most nominees) - Manchester City 

You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments 

Click here to register: https://www.snl24.com/auth/signup