The 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony hosted by France Football threw up no surprises as Karim Benzema winning prestigious trophy for the 1st time.
Karim Benzema : Won ballon d or 2022 | Stats | Age
Karim Mostafa Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Real Madrid, who he captains, and the France national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karim Mostafa Benzema | ||
| Date of birth | 19 December 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Lyon, France | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
A creative and prolific forward known for his playmaking and finishing, Benzema is often regarded as one of the best strikers of all time.
He ranks as Real Madrid’s all-time second-highest goalscorer and top assist provider.
Benzema is a former France youth international having earned caps at all levels for which he was eligible, excluding the under-16 team.
Karim Benzema won Ballon d or 2022
The 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony hosted by France Football threw up no surprises with Real Madrid attacker Karim Benzema winning the prestigious trophy for the first time.
Benzema, who won the La Liga and the Champions League in the year 2021-22, was the overwhelming favourite to win the Ballon d’Or in Monday’s ceremony in Paris courtesy of his 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 games last season.
He is the fifth Frenchman to claim the prize, the first since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.
Benzema’s Real Madrid teammate goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who won the 2022 Yacine Award, has been in blistering form for the Spanish champions. He produced a phenomenal performance against English champions Manchester City in the Champions League final last year.
The blue side of Manchester won the Club of the Year award, having had six nominees in the final Ballon d’Or list.
Barcelona took home the Kopa Trophy, which is presented to the young player of the year, second time in a row with Gavi winning the award for the Catalunia side.
Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona won the Women’s Ballon d’Or 2022, with Arsenal’s Beth Mead being a close second.
Stats
In the 2021 UEFA Nations League semi-final on 7 October, Benzema scored France’s first goal in the second half as they came from behind to defeat Belgium 3–2.
He overtook Zidane in the France scoring records as he scored his 32nd goal for Le Blues to become the 6th top scorer in their history.
| Senior career | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2006 | Lyon B | 20 | (15) |
| 2004–2009 | Lyon | 112 | (43) |
| 2009– | Real Madrid | 421 | (223) |
| National team | |||
| 2004 | France U17 | 4 | (1) |
| 2004–2005 | France U18 | 17 | (14) |
| 2005–2006 | France U19 | 9 | (5) |
| 2006 | France U21 | 5 | (0) |
| 2007– | France | 97 | (37) |
In the Final three days later, he scored the temporary equaliser as France went on to clinch the title for the first time with a 2–1 victory over Spain; he was named “Player of the Match” by UEFA for his performance in the final.
With two goals, he was the joint–top scorer of the Nations League Finals, along with Spain’s Ferran Torres and teammate Kylian Mbappé, who won the top scorer trophy due to having also provided two assists – Benzema won the bronze boot due to playing more minutes than Torres.
The Nations League was Benzema’s first trophy with France’s senior team and his 27th of his career, making him the most decorated Frenchman in football history.
On 13 November 2021, Benzema scored his first goals in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with a brace in an 8–0 win over Kazakhstan as France booked their place for Qatar 2022.
His brace saw him over-take David Trezeguet to become Les Bleus’ fifth all-time top scorer with 35 goals.
Age
Born in Lyon to Algerian parents, Benzema began his senior career with hometown club Olympique Lyonnais in 2005, contributing sporadically to three Ligue 1 title wins.
As of 2022, He is 34 years old.
In 2008, he was named the league’s Player of the Year and in the Team of the Year having finished as the league’s top goalscorer and winning his fourth league title and first Coupe de France.
In 2009, Benzema was the subject of a then French record football transfer when signed for Real Madrid in a transfer worth €35 million.