Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema lifts the Ballon d'Or 2022 to cap a year in which he won the La Liga title and Champions League
(Image credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid has been crowned the winner of the Ballon d'Or 2022.
The French forward has been in electric form this calendar year, stepping up as Los Blancos won the La Liga championship in 2021/22 along with a 14th Champions League at the hands of Liverpool in Paris.
Benzema managed 15 goals in just 12 appearances in the Champions League, netting hat-tricks against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the knockout stages, along with a brace and another goal in the semi-final first and second legs respectively against Manchester City.
Ballon d'Or 2022: Karim Benzema's incredible year for Real Madrid
Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's third goal in the semi-final second leg against Manchester City in May (Image credit: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
The only two teams that Benzema did not score against in the Champions League last season were Inter Milan and Liverpool, who Los Blancos defeated in the final, making it the season of his life on the European stage.
BENZEMA BY NUMBERS: 2021/22
LA LIGA 27 GOALS
12 ASSISTS
32 APPS
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 15 GOALS
2 ASSISTS
12 APPS
In the league, too, the Frenchman helped his side to pull away from the chasing pack, with nine goal contributions in just four games before Real lost El Clasico 4-0 without him in March.
"I somehow doubt this is his final season," manager Carlo Ancelotti said in September last year, adding, "He's like a fine wine; the older he gets the better he is."
At 34, Benzema eclipses the age of Luka Modric, who was 33 when he lifted the Ballon d'Or in 2018 and Fabio Cannavaro, who was the last defender to win the award back in 2006, also 33. Stanley Matthews, however, was 41 when he was awarded the inaugural prize, back in 1956.
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This is only the second time that a player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has won the BdO since 2007. Modric's aforementioned win was the other, while Messi's omission from the shortlist is a first in that period, too.
Last year's winner, Lionel Messi, was not nominated this time around (Image credit: Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo was voted way down in 20th place, with Harry Kane the highest English player on the list at 21st.
Erling Haaland managed 10th on the list, with Real Madrid trio Luka Modric ninth, Vinicius Jr eighth and Thibaut Courtois seventh respectively. Kylian Mbappe finished sixth on the list but was booed by French fans outside the ceremony, in light of his desire to leave PSG.
Kevin De Bruyne was the highest-placed Premier League player on the list (Image credit: ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images))
Mohamed Salah, at one point a favourite for the award, finished fifth.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
