Neither Mané, No player was better than Benzema in 2022 – Ballon d’Or, Courtois wins the Yashine Trophy
Benzema beat Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mane and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne to win football’s top individual award.
Benzema, 34, played a fundamental role when Real Madrid won La Liga and the Champions League in the 2021/22 season.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, Benzema has been the catalyst for Real Madrid’s attack and has finally been rewarded among the greats of the sport.
Last season with Real Madrid and France, Benzema scored 50 goals and provided 16 assists in a total of 55 games in all competitions.
The French striker received the Ballon d’Or from his former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane was the last French player before Benzema to win the Ballon d’Or 24 years ago in 1998.
Upon receiving the award, Benzema referred to Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Delima as his idol as well as Zidane.
Benzema on the Ballon d’Or
The French word expressed how he became the oldest player to win the award since 1956.
He said: “It was my mother who believed in my eternal dream of winning the Ballon d’Or.
“There is no age to win the #Ballon d’Or. Sometimes players improve at 30 and it all comes down to taking care of yourself.”
“At the age of 30, the ambition to win this trophy crossed my mind: to work harder, to be more decisive and I am lucky to play for the best club in the world.”
Courtois wins the Yachine Award
Benzema’s triumph added to Real Madrid’s success at the award ceremony after a comprehensive victory against rival Barcelona in El-Clásico.
Before Benzema’s victory, his Real Madrid teammate Thibaut Courtois won the Yachine Award for best goalkeeper.
Courtois, a key member of Real Madrid’s conquering squad, beat out Brazilian goalkeepers Alisson Becker of Liverpool and Ederson of Manchester City for the award.
