Karim Benzema has been named the best footballer on the planet for 2022 after winning the Ballon d’Or.
An imperious year for the Real Madrid striker, 34, has seen him lift the Champions League trophy for a fifth time plus the LaLiga title.
Benzema was awarded the Ballon d’Or in a ceremony in Paris on Monday and ends Lionel Messi’s two-year streak of dominating the footballer of the year competition.
Presented the award by Zinedine Zidane, he said: “I’m proud, this is a childhood dream. I grew up with this in my head, then I had the motivation.
“I had two role models in life: Zizou and Ronaldo. I've never lowered my efforts and I've kept the dream in my head, even through a period in which I was not in the national team.
“But I did not lower my efforts and it worked. It has been difficult and this only made me stronger mentally. I am satisfied with my work and I am very happy. I thank my teammates at Real Madrid and the national team.”
Messi did not make the 30-player shortlist while Harry Kane was named England’s highest-ranking player at 21st.
Erling Haaland was voted tenth behind Madrid stars Luka Modric, Vinicius Jr and Thibaut Courtois. Kylian Mbappe finished sixth with Mohamed Salah fifth.
Sadio Mane was rewarded for his final season with Liverpool by coming second in the award, Kevin De Bruyne taking the final step on the podium before Robert Lewandowski in fourth.
Benzema becomes the first Frenchman to win the award since Zidane in 1998 and the eighth different Real Madrid player to do so, two more than any other club.
Earlier on in the Paris ceremony, Alexia Putellas claimed the Ballon d’Or Feminin award. Gavi won the Kopa Trophy for best under-21 player and Thibaut Courtois took home the goalkeeper’s Yashin Trophy.
