Karim Benzema, a striker for Real Madrid, received the Ballon d’Or award on Monday, October 17, 2022 at a ceremony in Paris. His outstanding exploits helped Real Madrid win the Champions League and La Liga last season.
Since Zinedine Zidane won the award in 1998, Benzema has become the first Frenchman to receive it. He scored 44 goals in 46 matches for his team, including 15 in the Champions League.
Sadio Mane of Senegal’s national team and Bayern Munich fell to second position behind Benzema, who also helped France win the UEFA Nations League last year.
Third place went to Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium, and fourth place went to Robert Lewandowski of Poland and Barcelona.
READ ALSO: I’ll leave Barcelona If I Don’t Believe I’m The Solution – Xavi
A stunning career comeback for Benzema, who was barred from the France team for five and a half years due to his involvement in a blackmail issue involving a sextape involving teammate Mathieu Valbuena, is capped by his receipt of the prize, which is presented by France Football magazine.
Later, he was punished for his involvement in the scandal with a one-year suspended prison sentence and a 75,000 euro ($73,848) fine.
He did, however, re-join the national team for the European Championship last year, and he will now represent France at the World Cup in Qatar next month.
On December 19, the day following the World Cup championship, he will turn 35.
Since Stanley Matthews, the first winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1956, Benzema is the award’s oldest recipient.
In addition, the former Lyon striker is the fifth Frenchman to take home the trophy; Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, and Jean-Pierre Papin all did so before Zinedine Zidane did it in 1998.
