Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)4. All Rights Reserved. "It was a long season, but now it is a new chapter for me in Barcelona," said Lewandowski. After being presented with the award at a gala ceremony in Paris by Zinedine Zidane, the last Frenchman to win the accolade, in 1998, Benzema said: Seeing this prize in front of me makes me really proud. 13. Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 matches last season for Real Madrid, who won LaLiga and the Champions League; Sadio Mane finished in second place while Kevin De Bruyne was third; Barcelona midfielder Gavi was given the Kopa Trophy as the best young player of the year, Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. There, he not only scored twice in a dizzying first encounter with Manchester City, but nervelessly converted the penalty that completed yet another extraordinary Real comeback at the Santiago Bernabu. The Frenchman receivedthe accolade after taking toReal Madridto their Decimocuarta European Cup, a 35th LaLigatitle and a 12th Spanish Super Cup, topping the scoring charts in every competition with 15, 27 and 2 goals respectively. They could soon be joined by Chelsea's NGolo Kante who is also set to sign for Al-Ittihad. Franck Fife/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. That he has had to wait so long to flourish on his own accord is a measure of the height of the bar set by Messi and Ronaldo, and of the challenge of thriving in an era marked by twin greats. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur, England). Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium). Karim Benzema posing with his Ballon d'Or award and trophies during his farewell ceremony at Real Madrid. Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane, who was at Liverpool in 2021-22, was second ahead of Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne. The return to the national team, a World Cup where it would all fall into place, was frustrated by injury and a lingering sense that something was wrong. And yet that assessment risks not only turning Benzemas triumph into a subplot in a story of Messi and Ronaldos fall, but also ignoring the context for his victory. Click for T&Cs. "Thank you, everybody," said Mane of his acclaim. Heung-min Son (Spurs)10. Gonzalo Higuan had arrived 18 months earlier. It was a childhood dream like all kids [have]. ", talkSPORT BET: Bet 10 Get 30 In Free Bets - CLAIM HERE, 18+ Opt in, bet 10+at odds 2.00+, in 7 days. Benzema was the overwhelming favourite to win this year's award. In his 13th year at Madrid, he had led them. Sometimes, I can be a little shy. One season, 60 games, 44 wins, 150 goals and three major trophies - BBC Sport looks at the numbers behind Manchester City's best season. He didnt score so many goals back then but he had better things to do. Barcelona midfielder Gavi was named the winner of the Kopa trophy, awarded to the best player under the age of 21, with England duo Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka finishing in fourth and eighth position respectively. Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema has won his first Ballon dOr. Getty Images. Craving even more coverage of the world's game? De Bruyne was voted the highest ranked player currently playing in England, with the Manchester City midfielder finishing third. The Real Madrid skipper was recognised as the best player in the world and collected the Ballon d'Or. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal). How to get into football - the most popular sport in the world, with clubs and facilities throughout the UK. I'm really happy with my work.". Speaking after his arrival, Benzema said: "I'll never forget Real Madrid because it's impossible. pic.twitter.com/Ia3C0RBr4j, "It is a source of great pride to have this in front of me," said Benzema after finishing ahead of Sadio Mane, Kevin De Bruyne, Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah to become the oldest winner of the award since Stanley Matthews back in 1956. The Kopa Trophy for the best performing player under 21 went to Barcelonas Gavi, with England and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham having also made the final shortlist. Which Premier League players face a crucial transfer window? Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea/Real Madrid); Darwin Nunez (Benfica/Liverpool); Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Joao Cancelo (Man City)22. Benzema is understood to have signed a three-year deal at Al Ittihad, which is set to see him earn almost 200million per season. The gala, held in Paris, was attended by an extensive delegation from our club, headed bypresident Florentino Prez. Rather than offering 176 journalists from around the world a vote on the final winners, only those from the top 100 nations in FIFAs global rankings would decide the mens award, and the top 50 the womens prize. Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)6. Benzema will be 35 in December. The Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best performing player under the age of 21, went to Barcelona and Spain midfielder Gavi, who turned 18 in August. player to score in both legs of the quarter-final and semi-final in a single Champions League campaign after Fernando Morientes, Neymar and Edin Dzeko. He succeeds Barca teammate Pedri, last year's winner. Its a bit of a sad day, he said. It was hard for my family as well. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was given the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper prize, after his man-of-the-match performance in the Champions League final, against Liverpool, won the Spanish giants the most coveted club prize in European football. IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards shows small bursts of his talent in an entertaining but tough title defence at Wembley Arena. When that advantage seemed to have been wasted in the return fixture, it was Benzema who lifted Real Madrid once more, scoring the extra-time goal that sealed its place in the semifinal. "It makes me really proud," said Benzema. It was not really about the numbers, including the one on his back. "I'm really happy to do what I can for my people and to make everything better," said the Bayern Munich winger. If you had to choose one memorable moment from Benzemas career, it might be that piece of skill in the storm at the Caldern, somehow escaping the entire Atltico Madrid defence. When he told me he was going, I said: Thanks for all you have done, Carlo Ancelotti said. I am looking forward to joining my new teammates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels. "I'm really proud seeing this prize, it's been my dream since I was a kid. I always kept my head, concentrated on playing football and I'm really proud of my journey here. Here is the image you've all been waiting for! Karim Benzema prods home but his effort was disallowed for Real Madrid against Liverpool during the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.), Charting Ronaldo, Messi's Ballon d'Or rankings as 2022 marks end of an era. Recognition seemed to take a long time and almost as soon as he had it he has gone. It was only when Ronaldo left, in the summer of 2018, that Benzema was finally able to take center stage, blossoming into the headline act that his talent had always suggested he would become. "All the work I did, I never gave up. With this in mind, the Three Stripes is celebrating Benzema's Ballon d'Or victory in style with a new film aptly dubbed Hand of Gold. Borussia Dortmund's former West Ham striker Sebastien Haller, who has recently undergone chemotherapy for a testicular tumour, received warm applause from the audience when he walked on stage to present the Yashin Trophy to Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois for best goalkeeper. Benzema outlasted them, and all the other galcticos. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah finished in fifth place. Benzema had described winning one as his dream since childhood; he has had to wait a little longer than he might have anticipated to see it come true. And weve rounded up 14 remarkable stats from the 34-year-olds quite frankly batsh*t year. Karim Benzema was the recipient of a truly spectacular . "There was a difficult period where I wasn't in the French team, but I never stopped working hard nor gave up. The 35-year-old Frenchman had looked set to stay at the Spanish club for one . This was his 647th game. His 44 goals included a hat-trick in 17 second-half minutes against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and another away to Chelsea in the quarter-final first leg. Final rankings:25. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: soccer | pageType: stories | Card payments only. A day earlier, Benzema opened the scoring as Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 in El Clasico to go three points clear at the top of the LaLiga table. He was also second on the assists chart after Ousmane Dembele. LIVE Transfer Talk: As Man United talks stall, Kim attracts Chelsea, Newcastle interest, Sources: Guardiola eyes Man City exit in 2025, Neymar: Messi signing a 'game-changer' for MLS, Vinicius to wear iconic No. Lionel Messi to Inter Miami: What does his contract look like, when will he play, more, Messi to Miami hot takes: What move to MLS means for player, Barca, fans, Postecoglou's to-do list at Spurs: Sort Kane's future, win over the fans, Man City's Champions League triumph, treble of trophies comes down to Guardiola, Treble achieved! Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride/San Diego Wave)12. Kylian Mbappe (PSG)5. For a while, other strikers were mentioned, potential signings to go with the actual signings: Radamel Falcao, Robert Lewandowski and the rest. Not here, at least: that quiet contrasts dramatically, uncomfortably, with the dark off-field story that pursued him in France, affecting his national career which in turn may have affected his international status. Perhaps the worst signing in Madrids history, Hazard did not get on the pitch; perhaps even the best, Benzema went off in the 70th minute to a standing ovation. France Football, the magazine that has awarded the Ballon dOr, the most illustrious individual prize in soccer since 1956, had announced that the voting for this years edition would be subject to what Pascal Ferr, the publications editor, referred to as a little makeover in order to retain its relevance and burnish its accuracy. Courtois succeeds PSG and Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma with 23 competitive clean sheets across all competitions. Of course Karim Benzema gets in on the goals! I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my teammates. Karim Benzema spent much of his career as a glittering supporting act for Kak and Cristiano Ronaldo and, more recently, Kylian Mbapp. Following Manchester City's Treble, Phil McNulty reflects on the greatest football sides he has ever seen and asks you for your suggestions. Last updated on 17 October 202217 October 2022.From the section Football. The Ballon d'Or is not an obsession for Benzema; it is an ambition. Madridista Ballon d'Ors It's an individual prize, but it's a collective one because everyone has played a role.". 21. Modri,Courtois,Vini Jr.,CasemiroandRdigerwere also named on the 30-man shortlist to win the award. Hes the odds-on favourite and rightly so. Others arrived later, something seemingly significant in that. In 13 years at Madrid, Benzema has lifted five Champions League trophies, four LaLiga titles, two Copas del Rey, four UEFA Super Cups and four Spanish Supercopas. Following a spectacular 2021/22 campaign, France Football awarded the Real Madrid captain the2022 Ballon d'Or. He scored 15 goals in the Champions League in 2021-22, the joint-third most in any single-season Champions League campaign. Without my teammates, this would not have been possible. It's been a good journey in my life. Messi, last years winner, did not even make the shortlist. Chelseas Australia striker Sam Kerr finished in third place for the second year running. Fourteen years have passed since a car pulled up on Rue Youri Gagarine, Lyon, and the president of Real Madrid got out, but Karim Benzema can still picture it clearly. The striker played an integral role in that success and was inthebest goalscoringform of his career throughout the 2021-22 season. Like playing for Real Madrid, "the biggest club in the world" was always an ambition of his. The trophy went to Mane for his charity work in Senegal, including building a hospital and donating to schools. Benzema also got six goals and an assist in 10 France games in 2021-22, including the equaliser against Spain in their UEFA Nations League final win. The striker got either a goal or assist in 32 of the 46 club games he appeared in during 2021-22. Benzema succeeds Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina's Messi as titleholder with a tally of 47 competitive goals and 16 assists across competitions. For now, though, today belongs, at last, to Benzema. Three Ballon d'Or winners in the form ofZidane, Ronaldo andFigo joined Florentino Prezin accompanying KarimBenzema at the gala. Soccer star. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.). #Benzema2Ittihad#here2inspireKSA pic.twitter.com/YvsWFzebXF. They are extraordinary but while they made his case watertight in the end while they go in the books, the real stories will be written on different pages. Lionel Messi after winning a record sixth Ballon dOr award in 2019. Benzema became just the second player to score consecutive Champions League hat-tricks in the knockout stage the other was Ronaldo, who bagged three against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in 2017. The new film shows Benzema's iconic hand bandage . Luis Diaz (Liverpool); Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus); Casemiro (Real Madrid/Man United)16. 6. Injuring my knee in July, I did not think it would be possible [to win this award]., Alexia Putellas receives her second Woman's Ballon d'Or award. Karim Benzema is the first French player to win the Ballon dOr since Zinedine Zidane in 1998. For the second straight year, the 28-year-old wins the top women's prize despite missing this summer's Euros with an ACL injury. Because it is the obvious narrative does not make it less true. We have great potential with my new teammates. 7. During the fourteen seasons in which he has represented our badge and our shirt, he has won 25 titles, a record number for any Real Madrid player: 5 European Cups, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 Leagues, 3 King's Cups and 4 Spanish Super Cups. It wasn't easy, it was a difficult time for my family as well.". Benzemaalso played a key role in his country clinching theNations League trophy and hadalready been namedUEFA Best Men's Player. 20. It's an individual award, but a team one too, and I think this is the Ballon d'Or of the people. According to James Benge, the league, is making offers to Ilkay Gundogan and N'Golo Kante, as well as, of course, stepping up its pursuit of Lionel Messi. 6-keys: media/spln/soccer/reg/free/stories, at Benzema and Courtois present the Ballon d'Or and the Yashin Trophy to the Santiago Bernabu. Even with Ferrs changes, the Ballon dOr remains an inherently curious phenomenon, most clearly illustrated by the absence of the best player in the summers womens European Championship, Englands Keira Walsh, even from the shortlist for the womens award, won instead by Barcelonas injured star Alexia Putellas for the second year in a row. I changed the way I played with [Ronaldo], he said. Benzema had presidential support and protection Prez looked genuinely sad on Tuesday and no one came who could or would compete with him, but there was something more basic: ultimately, no one could hold a candle to him. The strikers goal against Eintracht Frankfurt moves him ahead of Raul as Los Blancos second all-time top scorer behind Ronaldo. ourteen years have passed since a car pulled up on Rue Youri Gagarine, Lyon, and the president of. Aitana Bonmati (Wolfsburg)4. The 35-year-old striker's departure was officially announced by the club on Sunday and on Tuesday he officially joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad. @RorySmith, A version of this article appears in print on, Benzema Wins Ballon dOr After Years of Waiting His Turn, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/17/sports/soccer/karim-benzema-real-madrid-ballon-dor.html. Sam Kerr (Chelsea)2. Beth Mead (Arsenal)1. It was always going to take something special to follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi's incredible seventh Ballon d'Or title but that is what Benzema produced in the 2021-22 season with Real. 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Tottenham's Hugo Lloris was 10th. Rory Smith is the chief soccer correspondent, based in Manchester, England. The defending champion remained dominant with the Catalan giants with 18 goals and 15 assists to help secure a third consecutive Primera Division crown as part of a domestic treble which Putellas chipped in 34 goals towards. Liverpool duo Fabinho and Virgil van Dijk finished in 14th and 16th place respectively, while Luis Diaz, Casemiro, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez and Joao Cancelo made up the rest of the 25-man shortlist. Karim Benzema was awarded the 2022 Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in Paris on Monday after a stellar 2021-22 season saw him lead Real Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double. I think the good players, the great players, rise to these occasions, Owen Hargreaves said on BT Sport following his Super Cup display against Eintracht Frankfurt in August. Karim Benzema was awarded the 2022 Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in Paris on Monday after a stellar 2021-22 season saw him lead Real Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double. He left Lyon; half a lifetime later, he departs the place that became home for longer than he could really have imagined but shorter than he had come to hope. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. After a six-year absence from the France national team, he returned to help them win the UEFA Nations League in 2021 and is expected to lead their attack at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)8. "It's been difficult for me. The France international picked up the prize -- which is awarded by the magazine France Football -- for the first time in his career at a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. After winning the UEFA Nations League with France last October, Benzema then added another Supercopa de Espana, La Liga and Champions League to his CV last season. Spanish player Alexia Putellas won the women's trophy for the second straight year following another standout season with Barcelona. He does so with 25 winners medals. section: | slug: karim-benzema-officially-unveiled-by-saudi-club-al-ittihad-after-leaving-real-madrid-after-14-seasons | sport: soccer | route: article_single.us | He has not played so few league games since arriving. Riyad Mahrez (Man City)11. Erling Haaland (Dortmund/Man City)9. He had touches of Zidane and touch is the word and of Brazilian Ronaldo too, his idols. , The Real Madrid star's first-time finish is enough to double the Champions League holder's lead #SuperCup pic.twitter.com/TWINCznyTt, Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 10, 2022. #ballondor pic.twitter.com/QJLVZW6XjG, Final rankings20. I never gave up and kept enjoying my soccer. Manchester City were named Club of the Year at the Paris ceremony after winning their fourth Premier League title in five seasons, beating runners-up Liverpool and Real Madrid to the prize. The Socrates Award, named after Brazils 1982 World Cup captain, for the best social initiatives within the game went to Mane, who has helped to build hospitals and a school in his homeland Senegal. 16. 4:12 pm ET, were on the cusp of landing the former Lyon man, PSG projection: Who's in, who's out for 2023-24, Concacaf Nations League schedule: What to know, How to watch, live stream River Plate vs. Banfield, Here We Go: Arsenal and Chelsea wants Caicedo and more. Add in one of two goals to qualify Poland for this winter's FIFA World Cup in Qatar ahead of Sweden and it has been another strong year for the now Barca man. He also scored three more goals over two legs of the semi-final against Manchester City. I am really proud of my journey here. 14. Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images. Luis Diaz (Liverpool, Colombia) tied with Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus, Serbia) and Casemiro (Manchester United, Brazil). Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)5. Lionel Messi won the award in 2019 and 2021, while no Ballon d'Or was given out in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Control complete, hands for feet in Santi Solaris words, there was a smoothness, a stillness, almost a silence, speed a thing of the mind. It was a childhood dream for me and all the work I have done, I never gave up. "I have felt good since I arrived. After breaking into the first-team setup at age 16 last year, Gavi went on to make 47 appearances for Barca in all competitions in 2021-22, scoring two goals. Some were real, some less so. King Karim arrives to collect his #ballondor crown. The France international finished as the top scorer inLa Liga, nine ahead of second-placed Iago Aspas. My coach, thanks to him as well. He did what he does, quietly perhaps but to a conclusion that was irrefutable: he was the best, the Ballon dOr following. It is only a few days since Benzema responded to reports of a departure by saying the internet isnt always right and a couple since Carlo Ancelotti reminded everyone that his striker still had a contract at the Santiago Bernabu, but there he was standing in the sports hall at the training ground and bidding farewell from a makeshift stage. Benzema is the first Frenchman to win the prestigious award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998. Sunday was Eden Hazards last game too. This season has not been the same. Benzema may not have been the decisive player in the Champions League final, an honor that fell to his teammate Vincius Jnior, but he had unquestionably been the defining figure in Reals journey to the final in Paris. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, the man he provided for over so many years, scored more for the club. Millie Bright (Chelsea)14. Across the next five seasons Benzema scored 30, 27, 30, 44, and 31 goals in all competitions. There has been fatigue, physical problems recurring. 4:38 pm ET, PSG projection: Who's in, who's out for 2023-24, Concacaf Nations League schedule: What to know, How to watch, live stream River Plate vs. Banfield, Here We Go: Arsenal and Chelsea wants Caicedo and more. Real Madrid's France forward Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award for the best men's player in the world on Monday, while Barcelona's Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women's award . I'm really proud to win this trophy alongside the other goalkeepers who are there - and the female ones too," said Belgian goalkeeper Courtois. Top scorers in the Premier . I am still here, though!". Catarina Macario (Lyon)8. , Football News . Lena Oberdorf (Barcelona)3. Their time will come, and soon. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was voted as the fifth-best player, ahead of PSG's Kylian Mbappe and Champions League match-winner Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. Benzema, for months regarded as the overwhelming favorite to win the 2022 edition of the award given to the worlds best soccer player, collected his prize on Monday at the Thtre du Chtelet in Paris. Messi had already won the trophy more times than any other player and his seventh success in 2021 came after wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: soccer | pageType: stories | During the Champions League era, he is just the fourth player to win the Pichichi trophy [La Ligas top goalscorer] and the Champions League Golden Boot in the same season. If he was shy in 2009, its not like there has been lots of noise since. Only four players have made more appearances. No cash out. And there was recognition too. Read about our approach to external linking. Monday's ceremony in Paris saw French F1 driver Esteban Ocon arrive at the Theatre du Chatelet with the Ballon d'Or trophy in a racing car. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly. There was no success for Cristiano Ronaldo, as he had to settle for 20th place in this year's Ballon D'Or honours board - the lowest position the Manchester United forward has been ranked in this prize since 2005. It has become a little facile to say, sure, but he was busy playing football. Real Madrid and France's Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon d'Or title on the men's side after topping the 2021-22 season voting. Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football. Getty Images. The 34-year-old, who has been at Real Madrid since 2009, is expected to play a key role for France at the World Cup in Qatar which starts on 20 November. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland). England Euro 2022 winners Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright had also been nominated for the womens prize, ranking 10th and 15th respectively in the France Football poll. Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)7. Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has won the men's Ballon d'Or for 2022. Manchester City were named Club of the Year, Jude Bellingham (left) and Bukayo Saka were nominated for the Kopa young player trophy, Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois won the Yashin Trophy. He was scoring 50, 60 goals a year so you adapt to his style. Correctly predict six scorelines on Wednesday for a chance to win 250,000 for free. Of course Benzema delivered a panenka in a Champions League semi-final , This game really has it all! Eventually everyone else did too. He scored 44 goals in 46 games across all competitions. ", The 2022 womens Ballon dOr complete ranking! His contract is extremely similar to Ronaldos, with both players becoming the faces of the Saudi Pro League. 22. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil). ), Perhaps most significantly, the voting criteria were clarified: The magazine instructed its jurors that individual attainment over the previous season should outweigh team success, and that a players broader career should not be relevant at all. Hes surpassed Rauls goal tally in 135 fewer appearances for the club. After Ronaldos departure there was a shift, even if it took a while to become evident and much as Benzema still recoils a little at the suggestion. Ranking every treble-winning team: How do City compare to Barca, Bayern, United? Difficult periods strengthened me mentally, including not being part of the international setup. I want to thank the technical staff and the coach as well. After winning the UEFA Nations League with France last October, Benzema then added another Supercopa de Espana, La Liga and Champions League to his CV last season. There is something undemonstrative about Benzema: he never seemed to be running, there was no fighting, no shouting, no grand gestures, he never even seemed to really kick a ball, still less whack it: instead it was guided, helped gently on its way. After 14 seasons, 25 trophies and five Champions League crowns with Real Madrid, he's off to ply his trade in Saudi Arabia. It didnt always seemas if he would last so long or be appreciated so much; that he was genuinely this good. dark off-field story that pursued him in France. (1:24). Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema will join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia after signing a three-year deal with Al-Ittihad, the Jeddah-based club confirmed on Tuesday. Thomas Coex/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. Awards received after one of the . If Mohamed Salah and Karim Benzema felt wronged by their Ballon d'Or rankings, then the pair began their revenge arcs in the most emphatic way possible on Wednesday. 18 Oct 2022 Karim Benzema won the men's Ballon d'Or for the first time on Monday after a brilliant season with Real Madrid capped by the Champions League and Spanish La Liga titles. The current Ballon dOr holder's new deal involves some unbelievable numbers and talkSPORT.com takes a deeper look. That was not his goal, nor even his assist; unmeasurable and unmeasured, it does not exist anywhere as a number but a piece of art. I do not forget Mr. [Jean-Michel] Aulas and the Lyon academy. There was a moment on Tuesday when Prez mentioned that achievement and went through his numbers. In the women's award, England forward Beth Mead had to settle for runner-up as Barcelona and Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the trophy for the second successive year. To be here today, for the first time for me, I'm happy and pleased with my work and I keep going. 8. He did so because, over the last year or so, he has reached their celestial level. Hes the odds-on favourite and rightly so. Why nobody can argue with Benzema's Ballon d'Orwin (1:24), Benzema wins Ballon d'Or; Gavi best U21 player. Man City win Champions League despite tough test from Inter Milan, Who wins after Messi's MLS move, and let's talk about Saudi Arabia's multibillion-dollar plan. But Benzemas victory is warranted, and perhaps overdue, recognition for a player who gave much of his peak career in the service of an even brighter star. Benzema cited wanting to live in a Muslim country as a reason for making the move but the staggering contract he was offered must've played a part too. All rights reserved. Esteban Ocon delivered the Ballon d'Or trophy in his Formula One car as the world's best football stars walked the red carpet of the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. "We haven't won the Champions League yet, but we are proud of how we play as a team," said De Bruyne who picked up the award for the club. He is the first Madrid player to receive the award since Luka Modric in 2018, and the first Frenchman to win since 1998 honoree Zidane, who awarded Benzema the trophy. Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games as he helped. I have coached one of the best players in the world. Norway forward Erling Haaland, who joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund during the summer and has made a superb start to the new campaign with 20 goals so far, was ranked in 10th overall. "I'm really proud of my journey here. There was the belief that he would stay for one more season until the summer of 2024 but now he's off for a growingly popular destination in the Middle East, which is also courting Lionel Messi, Kante and other global stars. Carl Recine / Reuters, Inside the rare 'convergence' by Lebanon's Christian parties over Azour, Berlusconi's ties with the Arab world through the years, UN chief warns AI threat on par with 'nuclear war', Riyadh Air takes flight over Saudi Arabias capital, China to receive up to $2tn in Middle East sovereign investments by 2030, HKEX CEO says, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema named Uefa Player of the Year. He had the stats now too, soon overtaking Hugo Snchez and Ral and Alfredo Di Stfano but he hadnt stopped doing the other things. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United)17. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium). . The Associated Press PARIS -- Karim Benzema won the men's Ballon d'Or for the first time on Monday after a brilliant season with Real Madrid capped by the Champions League and Spanish league titles. He seemed to get there quietly, almost unnoticed, never hammering home the point, just getting on with being the best. "This prize in front of me makes me really proud," said Benzema. Barca lost out to Olympique Lyonnais in the women's Champions League, but the Spaniard was still voted the best player and top scored with 11 goals. Manchester United's Ronaldo, who last won it in 2017, was placed 20th of the 30 players nominated, the Portuguese's lowest Ballon d'Or ranking since 2005. Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema opted to move to Al Ittihad instead of signing a new contract at Real Madrid. Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway). "I had two role models in my life: Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] and [Brazil legend] Ronaldo. ", 1st - Karim Benzema (Real Madrid and France), 2nd - Sadio Mane (Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Senegal), 3rd - Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium), 4th - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Poland), 5th - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt), 6th - Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain and France), 7th - Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid and Belgium), 8th - Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid and Brazil), 9th - Luka Modric (Real Madrid and Croatia), 10th - Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Norway), 11th - Heung-Min Son (Tottenham and South Korea), 12th - Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City and Algeria), 13th - Sebastian Haller (Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Ivory Coast), Joint 14th - Fabinho (Liverpool and Brazil), Rafael Leao (AC Milan and Portugal), 16th - Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool and Netherlands), Joint 17th - Luis Diaz (FC Porto, Liverpool, and Colombia), Casemiro (Real Madrid, Manchester United and Brazil), Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina, Juventus and Serbia), 20th - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United and Portugal), Joint 22nd - Bernardo Silva (Manchester City and Portugal), Phil Foden (Manchester City and England), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool and England), Joint 25th - Darwin Nunez (Benfica, Liverpool and Uruguay), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig and France), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City and Portugal), Mike Maignan (AC Milan and France), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea, Real Madrid and Germany), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich and Germany). Spanish. Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema has won the Ballon d'Or - awarded to the best footballer of the year - for the first time. Sebastian Haller (Ajax/Dortmund)12. Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema signs for Saudi Arabian team Al-Ittihad after leaving Real Madrid By Matt Foster, CNN Updated 11:21 AM EDT, Fri June 9, 2023 Link Copied! His dad complained that he was not more selfish at times and yet it was better this way. If he didnt score more goals perhaps it was because he was helping others do so. Barcelona and Spain's Alexia Putellas took the women's crown for the second consecutive year to become the first female player to win the top prize twice and back-to-back. A Daily CBS Soccer Podcast where we take you beyond the pitch and around the globe for commentary, previews, recaps and more. In the following days, they also shared their awards withthe teamand the fans at theSantiago Bernabu. The 34-year-old had been the strong favorite heading into the Theatre du Chatelet and has now been named the first French winner since Zinedine Zidane back in 1998 with Juventus. Benzema did not win the Ballon dOr because Messi and Ronaldo finally fell to earth. It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski won the Gerd Muller award for the best striker of the year, and Madrid's Thibaut Courtois won the Lev Yashin for best goalkeeper. Karim Benzema is the current UEFA Ballon d'Or and UEFA Player of the Year, as well as being included in the FIFA FIFPRO XI and winning the Pichichi Trophy 2022. Liverpool's Alisson was second, with Ederson of Manchester City and Chelsea's Edouard Mendy third and fourth respectively. He registered more direct goal contributions than Robert Lewandowski (57), Mohamed Salah (47), Erling Haaland (37) and Ciro Immobile (36) in 2021-22. Selma Bacha (Lyon)13. He finished ahead of Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne, who came in second and third, respectively. Benzema received 549 votes. READ MORE:Ranking the top 10 best football players in the world since 2017. will be decided today. Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema has won his first Ballon d'Or.. Benzema beat Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane to the men's top prize, with Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne in third place.. Karim Benzema is the fifth player who has worn our shirt the most times with 647 appearances, and is Real Madrid's second all-time top scorer with 353 goals. The Frenchman becomes only the second player aside from Lionel Messi and. To be recognised as a player is always nice. "One year ago I was able to win this prize and it pushed me to want to get even better. Here's how he . Kadidiatou Diani (PSG)19. Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain, France). After picking up their trophies, both the French forward and Courtois had words of gratitudefor their teammates and the fans. At first glance, of course, it is possible to believe that those changes made a difference in determining the outcome. Meanwhile,Camavingafinished second in the voting for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player under 21 years of age. Every top club wants a No. England Euro 2022 winner and Arsenal forward Beth Mead was second. "I'd like to thank my teammates at Real Madrid and the national team, my president [Florentino Perez] who is like family to me, and also the Lyon academy and president [Jean Michel] Aulas, thanks to him I fulfilled my dream of playing for Real Madrid," Benzema added. Phil Foden (Man City); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool); Bernardo Silva (Man City)21. Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, 19, was ranked fourth and England team-mate and Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka, 21, was eighth. Benzema became just the second player to score, Ranking the top 10 best football players in the world since 2017. Former Liverpool winger Mane was the winner of the inaugural Socrates award, a humanitarian prize, for giving back to his native Senegal. Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)16. Zaha, Rice, Palhinha latest, Man Utd unlikely to go for Kane | Contacts made about Hojlund, Man Utd to make formal bid for Mount | Long-standing interest in Caicedo, The agony of Deportivo La Coruna continues, Ferdinand felt 'physically sick' after racist gestures at Molineux, Man Utd transfers: Maguire exit ramped up amid Kim interest, Mayweather exhibition fight vs Gotti descends into mass brawl, Arsenal transfers: Gunners to continue Rice pursuit. Not as a forward, but a footballer., There may never have been a fight for survival in La Liga quite like this | Sid Lowe, Sergio Busquets: You have to control everything its like chess I calculate it all, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Christiane Endler (Lyon)11. I know that there is a now a new generation of talent. For years, the Frenchman has hoped of actually displaying the trophy of his dreams there, with all the Champions Leagues and the rest of his prizes and . Benzema received widespread recognition for his performances in the Champions League last season, scoring 10 goals in Madrid's knockout stage wins over PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City on the way to winning the club's 14th European Cup. And it doesnt look like the 34-year-old has plans to slow down any time soon; despite some injury problems, hes kicked off the 2022-23 campaign three goals in five matches for the European champions. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands). The. Anything is possible. I also thank my family as we are united and together. 4. Anything is possible. And to thank everyone involved at the club off the pitch. The Ballon d'Or is voted for by 100 journalists from around the world. And now he has gone. Whatever changes France Football had announced, whatever criteria it had emphasized, so remarkable was Benzemas season that it is hard to imagine a way in which he might not have won. He covers all aspects of European soccer and has reported from three World Cups, the Olympics, and numerous European tournaments. Internationally, she also made her 100th appearance with four goals from seven outings just this year.
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