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Ballon d'Or: Karim Benzema wins FIFA World Player of the Year award for the first time

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Real Madrid and France striker 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) have won the award on 12 of the previous 13 occasions.

Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane, who was at Liverpool in 2021-22, came second to Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne.

Barcelona's Alexia Putillas retained the Women's Ballon d'Or award, which was awarded to the best female footballer of 2022.

Beth Meade, winner of the European Football Championship in England 2022, finished second.

The English Premier League champion, Manchester City, got six nominees at the ceremony, taking the Club of the Year award ahead of Liverpool.

The Golden Ball is awarded to the Footballer of the Year, based on performance during the 2021-22 season.


Zinedine Zidane (right) was the last Frenchman to win the Ballon d'Or 

First Frenchman to win prize since 1998

Monday's ceremony in Paris saw French F1 driver Esteban Ocon arrive at the Theatre du Chatelet with the Ballon d'Or trophy in a racing car.

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.

How Zidane went from 'the boy called Yaz' to World Cup glory
"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."

Benzema was the overwhelming favourite to win this year's award.

His 44 goals included a hat-trick in 17 second-half minutes against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and another away to Chelsea in the quarter-final first leg.

He also scored three more goals over two legs of the semi-final against Manchester City.

The 34-year-old, who has been at Real Madrid since 2009, is expected to play a key role for France at the World Cup in Qatar which starts on 20 November.

The Ballon d'Or is voted for by 100 journalists from around the world.

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