EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
France international Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon d’Or award for the first time.
Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane came second behind Benzema.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne came third and Robert Lewandowski came fourth.
The Real Madrid striker scored 44 goals in 46 games as he helped the Los Blancos win the Champions League and La Liga in 2021-22.
Lionel Messi (seven) and Cristiano Ronaldo (five) had won the award on 12 of the previous 13 occasions.
Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas retained the Women’s Ballon d’Or, awarded to the best best female footballer of 2022.
England Euro 2022 winner and Arsenal forward Beth Mead was second.
Premier League champions Manchester City, who had six nominees at the ceremony, were awarded Club of the Year ahead of Liverpool.
The Ballon d’Or is awarded to the best footballer of the year, based on performance over the 2021-22 season.