The long-awaited coronation has become a reality. Without any suspense, Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or 2022 on Monday evening, the first of his career. The distinction crowns an XXL season for the center forward and captain of Real Madrid, crowned in the Champions League, in La Liga and in the League of Nations, and top scorer in the C1 with fifteen achievements.
At 34, the former Lyonnais has put his name on the list of winners of a trophy which he is the first Frenchman to win since Zinédine Zidane, his former coach who presented him with the Ballon d’Or on stage in 1998. he Madrid center-forward is the fifth tricolor to win it after Zizou, Jean-Pierre Papin – also present for the occasion -, Michel Platini and Raymond Kopa.
Already fourth in 2021
Karim Benzema had already come close to the podium last year by finishing in fourth place in the list dominated by PSG striker Lionel Messi. But the player’s extraordinary season, who returned to the French team last year after five years of sidelining by Didier Deschamps, allowed him to rally the votes he lacked to afford this Golden ball.
In addition to Benzema, three Real Madrid players finished in this Top 10: goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (7th), winner of the Yachine trophy for best goalkeeper, Brazilian striker Vinicius (8th) and Croatian midfielder Luka Modric (9th), winner of the trophy in 2018. The second Frenchman, Kylian Mbappé, finished in sixth place. Two other Tricolores, Christopher Nkunku and Mike Maignan, also appear in the rankings this season with a joint 25th place.