Real Madrid star Karim Benzema won the first Ballon d’Or of his career at Monday night’s ceremony in Paris, pipping former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane to the top prize. Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne came third.
Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to claim his sixth Ballon d’Or, instead finishing a mere 20th on the list – his lowest placing in 17 years. Rival Lionel Messi was not even nominated.
It signals a changing of the guard at the top of elite football. Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe both finished in the top 10.
There were also awards for Alexia Putellas (Women’s Ballon d’Or), Barcelona midfielder Gavi (Kopa Trophy), and many more.
Here is how the BalonDor Awards was given.
Karim Benzema is the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner!
Zinedine Zidane is here to present the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
It goes to… Karim Benzema!
The Real Madrid forward scored a stunning 44 goals in 46 appearances last season, winning La Liga and the Champions League.
Club of the Year
Manchester City have been crowned Club of the Year.
Successes by the men’s and women’s teams appeared to be the deciding factor.
Pep Guardiola’s side won a a fourth Premier League title in five years, while Gareth Taylor’s women’s team finished as FA Cup runners-up in an impressive campaign.
Yachine Trophy winner
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been presented with the Yachine Trophy.
It crowns the world’s best goalkeeper.
The Ballon d’Or top ten is revealed in full
Benzema pipped Sadio Mane to the top gong. Man City playmaker Kevin de Bruyne came third, while Robert Lewandowski was fourth.
Thibaut Courtois the seventh in the Ballon d’Or voting.
PSG ace Kylian Mbappe, who has been linked with a stunning January transfer, is sixth.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is fifth.
Erling Haaland has finished 10th in the Ballon d’Or rankings. Ahead of the Manchester City forward are Real Madrid pair Luka Modric and Vinicius Jnr, respectively.
Gerd Muller award
Robert Lewandowski, who broke Muller’s record for the most Bundesliga goals in a season last season, has been awarded the gong.
Lewandowski made the switch from Barcelona to Bayern Munich in the summer.
Women’s Ballon d’Or winner
Barcelona star Alexia Putellas has been crowned as the women’s Ballon d’Or winner.
It is the second consecutive time that she has won the award.
England Euro 2022 winners Beth Mead, Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze have missed out.
Socrates Award
Former Liverpool man Sadio Mane has won the Socrates Award.
This is a new gong awarded to a player who is committed to tackling social issues.
Kopa Trophy
Up first is the winner of the Kopa Trophy award. This is a trophy given to the best U21 player in the world.
The winner is… Barcelona midfielder Gavi!
KOPA TROPHY RANKINGS
- 10. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
- 9. Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund)
- 8. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
- =6: Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich)
- =6: Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig)
- 5. Nuno Mendes (PSG)
- 4. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
- 3. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
- 2. Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
- 1. Gavi (Barcelona)
