Karim Benzema has been named the best footballer on the planet for 2022 after lifting the Ballon d’Or.
An imperious year for the Real Madrid striker, 34, has seen him lift the Champions League trophy for the fifth time plus the LaLiga title.
Benzema was named the Ballon d’Or in a ceremony in Paris on Monday, October 17, and ended Lionel Messi’s two-year streak of dominating the footballer of the year competition.
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Messi however did not make the 30-player shortlist this year while Harry Kane was named England’s highest-ranking player at 21st in the rundown.
Erling Haaland was voted tenth behind Madrid stars Luka Modric, Vinicius Jr, and Thibaut Courtois. Kylian Mbappe finished sixth with Mohamed Salah fifth.
Sadio Mane was rewarded for his final season with Liverpool by coming second in the award, Kevin De Bruyne taking the final step on the podium before Robert Lewandowski in fourth.
Benzema becomes the first Frenchman to win the award since Zidane in 1998 and the eighth different Real Madrid player to do so, two more than any other club.
