Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema poses with the men's Ballon d'Or Trophy during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
PARIS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- French striker Karim Benzema claimed the 2022 Ballon d'Or here on Monday after a dazzling season with Real Madrid which saw the Spanish giants win both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
Spain's Alexia Putellas won the women's trophy for the second year in a row following another stellar season with Barcelona.
The first French player to win the prestigious individual football prize since Zinedine Zidane in 1998, Benzema had his best season ever at Madrid, finishing with 44 goals in 46 matches and becoming the top scorer in both domestic and continental tournaments.
A highlight for the 34-year-old came in the knockout stages of the Champions League when he grabbed two consecutive hat-tricks against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, and Chelsea in the quarterfinals.
"It's a collective victory. It's an individual trophy but without your teammates, you can't score. Sometimes you might get a screamer but, for me, football is a collective sport and I will always be a team player," Benzema said.
For the first time in the award's history, the Ballon d'Or was awarded based on the performance of the past season, not according to achievements in a calendar year.
Senegalese forward Sadio Mane, who moved to Bayern Munich from Liverpool this summer, came second, while Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium was third.
Barcelona's summer signing Robert Lewandowski was named the best striker for the second year in a row, with the Pole also ranking fourth in the overall Ballon d'Or list. Fellow Barcelona midfielder Gavi won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player.
Benzema's club teammate Thibaut Courtois was given the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper. ■
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (L) speaks after receiving the men's Ballon d'Or Trophy during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema reacts after receiving the men's Ballon d'Or Trophy during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema speaks after receiving the men's Ballon d'Or Trophy during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
FC Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas receives her second Woman Ballon d'Or award during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Bayern's Senegalese forward Sadio Mane (R) receives the Socrates Trophy for most involved player in societal and charitable projects from French-Brazilian former football player Rai during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Zinedine Zidane (L) presents the men's Ballon d'Or Trophy to Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois speaks after winning the Yashin Trophy during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Gavi poses with the Kopa Trophy for best under-21 player during the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Brazilian former football forward Ronaldo poses upon arrival to attend the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe poses upon arrival to attend the 2022 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Oct. 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
