Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema has won the Ballon d'Or - awarded to the best footballer of the year - for the first time.
Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games as he helped Real 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.
Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane, who was at Liverpool in 2021-22, was second ahead of Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne.
Benzema is the first Frenchman to win the prestigious award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998. Zidane was at the event to present his countryman with the prize.
"This prize in front of me makes me really proud," said Benzema. "When I was small, it was a childhood dream, I never gave up. Anything is possible.
"I'm really proud of my journey here. It wasn't easy, it was a difficult time for my family as well."
Ballon d'Or results
1. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France).
2. Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich, Senegal).
3. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium).
4. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland).
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt).
6. Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain, France).
7. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium).
8. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil).
9. Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia).
10. Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway).
11. Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur, South Korea)
12. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City, Algeria).
13. Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, Ivory Coast).
14. Fabinho (Liverpool, Brazil) tied with Rafael Leao (AC Milan, Portugal).
16. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands).
17. Luis Diaz (Liverpool, Colombia) tied with Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus, Serbia) and Casemiro (Manchester United, Brazil).
20. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal).
21. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur, England).
22. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool, England) tied with Phil Foden (Manchester City, England) and Bernardo Silva (Manchester City, Portugal).
25. Joao Cancelo (Manchester City, Portugal) tied with Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich, Germany), Mike Maignan (AC Milan, France), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool, Uruguay) and Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig, France).
Thecloud
0
Next Season this man is going to win it Falcon
1barcaspurs
1
official
Kings2002
2
Congratulations once again the Big Benz.. Truly, hardwork pays
Caliko34
1
RipRoz
0
Congratulations Big Benz. Well deserved award. πππ Congratulations to all the winners. πππ
Aman1997
0
If Messi have had the same numbers as Benzema u guys will still chose Lewy because he scored more goals than him and break records of goals But because itβs Benzema look at how hypocrites you are stupid gentleman
fool, it's not just about the nos. it's also about the trophies won. get your head right.
wukbmoruy
0
Poor Messi not even nominated as he has infringed the rule for robbing the title last year.π₯΅π₯΅π₯΅
If Messi have had the same numbers as Benzema u guys will still chose Lewy because he scored more goals than him and break records of goals But because itβs Benzema look at how hypocrites you are stupid gentleman
justpeace
3
congrats big Benz, you deserve it, I wish man u can have some one like you πππππππππ
Hohabcpruz
5
Poor Messi not even nominated as he has infringed the rule for robbing the title last year.π₯΅π₯΅π₯΅
teeacdlpr
5
Gavi's kopa Trophy is biggest robbery in the history of football after Messi's 2021ballon dor.
amartious2000
0
GOAT Messi didn't make the list beacause he endorsed Karim Benzema months ago. It is better not to be invited for humiliation.
Piwdmnory
2
Zuzenoprty
2
the departure of Ronaldo mark the beginning of good things for Benzema and Modric with that selfish cr7 in your team all your effort to shine remains in vain bc he is so selfish ,he want to shine ,score alone
Fadakmopt
2
guys so Messi wasn't even on the list π π€£
PeterNyantakyi2
1
he is second best behind Maguire
lol
vakeinrtz
1
congratulations Karim Benzema
Energy23
0
Benzema deserves the award. Ronaldo never deserved to be on the list. Maybe of number 1011.
lol fool because u didn't find Lionel right πΉπΉ
Subhomadridista
2
Benzema robbed him of the Ballon dor. pure robbery
[image]
he is second best behind Maguire
charitywale
2
His time is nowβ₯οΈ
Wudcdint
1
Benzema deserves the award. Ronaldo never deserved to be on the list. Maybe of number 1011.
Vuudnpsuz
0
congratulations, well deserve
TheoJr1
0
congratulations to his first and last Ballon D'or
Aman1997
4
Benzema robbed him of the Ballon dor. pure robbery
kahbeiprt
1
In the next generation our feature captain
[image]
legend
zubcein55
7
In the next generation our feature captain