In his room at the Tola-Vologe training center, lined with posters of the Brazilian Ronaldo, the kid from Bron dreamed of it night and day. We had to arm ourselves with patience, often in the shadow of those who took the light in its place. This Monday, October 17 is his day: Karim Benzema, moved to tears at the Théâtre du Châtelet, is the indisputable Ballon d’Or 2022. At 34, he becomes the fifth Frenchman, the first since Zinedine Zidane in 1998, to lift the finest and most prestigious of individual awards. Nice wink of fate, it is ZZ, his model, his inspiration, his big brother and his former coach, who gave him the precious trophy. The Real Madrid striker, thick beard and thin glasses, dressed in a dark suit and a white shirt with a black collar inspired by an outfit of his other idol, rapper Tupac Shakur, is ahead of Sadio Mané (Liverpool) and Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City). Kylian Mbappé (PSG) took 6th place.
Ballon d’Or
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His coronation is indisputable and the Madrilenian had killed all suspense by hovering over the last edition of the Champions League as only Cristiano Ronaldo had done before him. He had to wait for the Portuguese to leave in 2018 to occupy the place his talent deserves, the first. Now leader of the Madrid armada, KB9 flirted with honors last year (4th on the list) before experiencing consecration at an age when ordinary mortals are declining. He has never been so strong and becomes the second oldest Ballon d’Or in history behind Sir Stanley Matthews (at 41, in 1956).
Karim Benzema, Ballon d’Or 2022
Credit: Getty Images
Gold competition and gold category
We will remember from his season his hat-tricks once morest PSG and Stamford Bridge, his panenka once morest City as the highlights of an immaculate year. His Nations League and La Liga titles have completed his gigantic record and it’s easy to see why the competition is relegated light years away. Logical dolphin, Sadio Mané, the first African in the top 3 since the coronation of George Weah in 1995, had to bow and his defeat seemed sealed as soon as Real won the Champions League final last May.
Manchester City’s best player, Kevin De Bruyne completes a 100% unprecedented podium, a first for 15 years. Robert Lewandowski, top scorer of the season (50 pawns), and Mohamed Salah complete the top 5. Far, much further, the 20th place of Cristiano Ronaldo marks the end of an era and a reign that the absence of Lionel Messi among the nominees had initiated. For the first time since 2007, neither the Portuguese nor the Argentinian are on the podium. Even legends age. Except Karim Benzema. A Golden Ballon d’Or category.
Ballon d’Or
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