Karim Benzema has been announced as the winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or, after an incredible season with Real Madrid in which he won the Champions League and La Liga title.
Benzema was absolutely integral to Real’s success at home and in Europe and has been the odds on favourite to be named the best player in the world, even before the shortlist for the title was revealed by France Football.
This year is the first time that the award was handed out for success by season, rather than calendar year, meaning the upcoming World Cup was never going to count towards the winner.
Benzema scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the Champions League last 16 and quarter finals, against PSG and Chelsea, respectively, as his side progressed through the knockout rounds.
He finished the season with 44 goals from 46 appearances, in all competitions, overtaking Raul as the club’s second all time top goalscorer, leaving only Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of him.
Last year few would have backed the former Lyon striker to win the award but late on in voting there was a push by certain former and current Real stars to claim he was deserving.
He finished fourth in voting, behind Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho, which was his best ever finish, before Monday night.