Paris: France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon dÓr award after he beat off competition from Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bryune. The prestigious honour comes after he led Real Madrid to their 14th Champions League title in May when they defeated Liverpool in Paris.
The 34-year-old managed 44 goals in 46 matches last season as Real won the Champions League, another LaLiga title along with the Spanish and European Super Cups.
Benzema was crowned in a ceremony in Paris ahead of Sadio Mane in second and Kevin De Bruyne in third – with the striker becoming the first French winner of the Ballon D’Or since Zinedine Zidane – who presented him the award – in 1998.