Ballon d’Or 2022 award results: Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema wins his first; Alexia Putellas goes back-to-back

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. 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. 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.

Here are the winners:

Men’s Ballon d’Or: Real Madrid and France’s Karim Benzema

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. With 15 Champions League goals and two assists from 12 outings, including an astonishing haul of 10 knockout phase goals en route to the title, it was always going to be a strong case for the Frenchman. However, 27 goals and 12 assists from 31 La Liga appearances as Real finished top plus Les Bleus’ UEFA Nations League triumph meant that nobody could truly compete individually or collectively. Benzema succeeds Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina’s Messi as titleholder with a tally of 47 competitive goals and 16 assists across competitions.

“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. “I think back to all of the hard work that I have put since I was little. I always had motivation thanks to my two role models of Zizou (Zinedine Zidane) and Ronaldo (Nazario), but I did not give up. Difficult periods strengthened me mentally, including not being part of the international setup. I never gave up and kept enjoying my soccer. I thank my Real Madrid and France teammates, my president who is like family and came to my home to sign me for Real. I do not forget Mr. [Jean-Michel] Aulas and the Lyon academy. I also thank my family as we are united and together. This is the people’s Ballon d’Or.”

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Final rankings:25. 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. Phil Foden (Man City); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool); Bernardo Silva (Man City)21. Harry Kane (Spurs)20. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United)17. Luis Diaz (Liverpool); Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus); Casemiro (Real Madrid/Man United)16. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)14. Rafael Leao (AC Milan); Fabinho (Liverpool)13. Sebastian Haller (Ajax/Dortmund)12. Riyad Mahrez (Man City)11. Heung-min Son (Spurs)10. Erling Haaland (Dortmund/Man City)9. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)8. Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)7. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)6. Kylian Mbappe (PSG)5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)4. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Barcelona)3. Kevin de Bruyne (Bayern Munich/Barcelona)2. Sadio Mane (Liverpool/Bayern Munich)1. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Women’s Ballon d’Or: Barcelona and Spain’s Alexia Putellas

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. 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. 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. Internationally, she also made her 100th appearance with four goals from seven outings just this year.

“I am very happy to be back here,” Putellas of her back-to-back feat. “One year ago I was able to win this prize and it pushed me to want to get even better. Without my teammates, this would not have been possible. I want to thank the technical staff and the coach as well. And to thank everyone involved at the club off the pitch.”

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Final rankings20. Kadidiatou Diani (PSG)19. Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)18. Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)17. Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)16. Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG)15. Millie Bright (Chelsea)14. Selma Bacha (Lyon)13. Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride/San Diego Wave)12. Christiane Endler (Lyon)11. Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal)10. Lucy Bronze (Man City/Barcelona)9. Catarina Macario (Lyon)8. Wendie Renard (Lyon)7. Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)6. Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)5. Aitana Bonmati (Wolfsburg)4. Lena Oberdorf (Barcelona)3. Sam Kerr (Chelsea)2. Beth Mead (Arsenal)1. Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Gerd Muller Trophy: Barcelona and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski

Two years into this award and the 34-year-old has established a 100 percent win rate by taking the two maiden titles. Lewandowski tallied 59 competitive goals and 10 assists in his final season with Bayern and 13 of those came in the Champions League while 35 were scored in the German Bundesliga. 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.

“It was a long season, but now it is a new chapter for me in Barcelona,” said Lewandowski. “I have felt good since I arrived. We have great potential with my new teammates. I know that there is a now a new generation of talent. I am still here, though!”

Yashin Trophy: Real Madrid and Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois

The 30-year-old was in one of the main supporting roles behind Benzema as Real went on their tear towards the end of last season to win the Champions League, La Liga, the UEFA Super Cup and the Supercopa de Espana. Courtois succeeds PSG and Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma with 23 competitive clean sheets across all competitions.

Kopa Trophy: Barcelona and Spain’s Gavi

Another year, another Barca winner as Gavi follows on from Pedri as the brightest young talent in the soccer world. Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham might feel that he had a strong case to pip the Spain international to the prize, but the Englishman will have to wait again after finishing second and now fourth.

Club of the Year: Manchester City

Well, it wasn’t Real Madrid as the award went to Manchester City, with six total Ballon d’Or nominees, including Lucy Bronze on the women’s team. Los Blancos finished in third despite winning La Liga and the Champions League, while Liverpool finished in second. 

Socrates Trophy: Bayern Munich and Senegal’s Sadio Mane

The Bayern man was the winner of the inaugural Socrates Trophy on Monday which rewards players involved in humanitarian efforts. Senegal international Mane, who left Liverpool this summer, was recognized for his contribution towards development in his home country where the 30-year-old has helped to build schools and hospitals — notably in his hometown of Bambali.

“Thank you, everybody,” said Mane of his acclaim. “I am really happy to be here. Sometimes, I can be a little shy. However, I am happy to be doing what I am doing for my people back home to try to make their lives better.”