Izuchukwu Okosi
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema on Monday night was crowned the winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or award beating the competition posed by Sadio Mane (2nd) and Kevin De Bruyne (3rd) among other world class football talents.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe 2022 awards is the 66th edition of the top award ceremony.
Benzema helped the Los Merengues win the UEFA Champions League and also the LA Liga in Spain.
For the first time, the duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were not in the top three aawardees. Messi was not even in the top 30 list while Ronaldo finished in 20th place.
The award was given based on the performances of players, and teams for the previous season and not the calendar year.
Sadio Mane was, handed The Special award in recognition of the great Socrates of Brazil for his Humanitarian work in his native Senegal.
Nigeria and Barcelona Femini striker Asisat Oshoala made history as the first African women’s player to be nominated for the prize as she finished in 16th place from a list of 30.
Barcelona Femeni captain Alexia Putellas won the award for the second time in successive seasons. Putellas, 28, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the summer and missed Spain’s Euro 2022 campaign.
Manchester City was awarded the team of the season, Gavi scooped the prize for the Kopa trophy reserved for the best U-21 players while Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtouis won the Yashin award for the best goalkeeper award.
The Ballon d’Or award is organised by France Football magazine.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
