For the first time in history, Real Madrid goalie, Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon D’or award as the best male football player.
Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 matches last season for Real Madrid, and he helped the Spanish giants win the La Liga title and the 2021/2022 Champions League.
Karim was always at the front and helped Madrid edge past tough teams like Manchester City. He was also the highest goal scorer in the Champions League.
The Ballon D’or gala took place in Paris, and it was a date marked in the calendar of the Real Madrid star and the calendar of all fans of the club.
The French striker was the overwhelming favourite to win the player of the year award after a season to remember after winning every title with his club except the Copa del Rey.
Benzema paid his tribute to his idol, Tupac, and the star of the French national team also wore an outfit almost identical to the one the rapper and actor, who was murdered in 1996, wore to one of the galas where he was presented with a music award.
The outfit has two special details: a kind of bow tie knotted around the neck and a pair of thin rimmed glasses that stand out above all else. Otherwise, the outfit is simple: black blazer, white shirt and black trousers.
Benzema was crowned in a ceremony in Paris ahead of Sadio Mane in second and Kevin De Bruyne in third – with the striker becoming the first French winner of the Ballon D’Or since Zinedine Zidane – who presented him the award – in 1998.
The striker is also the oldest Ballon D’Or winner since Stanley Matthews won the first edition of the prize in 1956.
“It makes me really proud,” said Benzema. “All the work I did, I never gave up. It was a childhood dream like all kids – the motivation. I had two motivations in my life – Zidane and Ronaldo. I’ve always had this dream in my mind that anything is possible
“There was a difficult period where I wasn’t in the French team, but I never stopped working hard nor gave up. I always kept my head, concentrated on playing football and I’m really proud of my journey here.”
“I always kept my head, concentrated on playing football and I’m really proud of my journey here. It wasn’t easy, it was a difficult time. It was hard for my family as well. To be here today, for the first time for me, I’m happy and pleased with my work and I keep going.”
