Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema won the men's Ballon d'Or on Monday, becoming the first Frenchman to claim the most prestigious individual prize in ...

She was the Champions League top scorer with 11 goals, although her club lost the final to Lyon. "The knee is doing well. Vinicius scored the only goal in He is living a marvellous twilight to his career with the 2022 World Cup, in which France go in as the defending champions, yet to come. He scored an astonishing 44 goals in 46 games for his club including 15 in the [Champions League](https://www.france24.com/en/tag/champions-league/). "There was a difficult period when I wasn't in the French team but I never gave up. Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema won the men's Ballon d'Or on Monday, becoming the first Frenchman to claim the most prestigious individual prize in football since Zinedine Zidane almost a quarter of a century ago. "This prize in front of me makes me really proud. Anything is possible," Benzema said on stage at the ceremony. He also scored three more goals over both legs of the semi-final against Manchester City. He succeeds It wasn't easy, it was a difficult time for my family as well."

Putellas retains her title as the world's best women's player after leading Barcelona to another Spanish title, scoring 18 goals in the process. Barça won all ...

Lewandowski, who joined Barcelona from Bayern Munich this summer, came fourth in the men’s ranking and also won the Gerd Müller trophy for the world’s best forward. The men’s judging panel was also reduced from 170 to 100, with 50 judges for the women’s prize. Thibaut Courtois won the Lev Yashin trophy for the world’s best goalkeeper and placed seventh overall, with his Real Madrid teammates Vinícius Júnior and Luka Modric in eighth and ninth place. Manchester City were named club of the year after Pep Guardiola’s side won their fourth Premier League title in five seasons. The 34-year-old scored 27 goals in La Liga and was also the top scorer in the Champions League with 15. Putellas retains her title as the world’s best women’s player after leading Barcelona to another Spanish title, scoring 18 goals in the process.

Karim Benzema has won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career. The Frenchman becomes only the second player aside from Lionel Messi and Cristiano ...

Last season, Benzema was in scintillating form. It is this drive that has kept me going and never allowed me to let up. Aged 34, Benzema is the oldest Ballon d'Or winner since Stanley Matthews in 1956. "There are a lot of people to thank. To be here today for the first time, I am happy, pleased for my work and want to keep going. Benzema's Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric won the prize in 2018.

Karim Benzema is the first French player to win the prestigious award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.

Alexia Putellas has won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for a second successive year, becoming the first woman to win it twice since it launched in 2018.

[Ada Hegerberg.](https://www.espn.com/football/player/_/id/188067/ada-hegerberg) [Megan Rapinoe](https://www.espn.com/football/player/_/id/158775/megan-rapinoe) won it the following year before it was suspended in 2020 because of the pandemic. The Catalan side made history "Without my teammates this would not have been possible," Putellas said after receiving the award. [Putellas was later named UEFA Women's Player of the Year](/football/uefa-womens-champions-league/story/4729802/barcelonas-alexia-putellas-named-uefa-womens-poty-england-boss-sarina-wiegman-crowned-coach-of-the-year) ahead of Mead and [Lena Oberdorf](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/287344/lena-oberdorf). [Barcelona](/football/team/_/id/20091/barcelona) midfielder [Alexia Putellas](https://www.espn.com/football/player/_/id/219995/alexia-putellas) has won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for a second successive year, becoming the first woman to win the award twice since it launched in 2018. [Beth Mead](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/280982/beth-mead) and Chelsea's [Sam Kerr](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/158683/sam-kerr), who were second and third, respectively.

Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema are up for the top prize, while Bukayo Saka has been nominated for the Kopa Trophy.

Meanwhile, last season saw Bukayo score 11 goals in 38 Premier League games for us, scooping our Player of the Year award for a second consecutive year in the process. Like Beth, Germany and Wolfsburg goalscorer Alexandra Popp also netted six times at Euro 2022, while Chelsea's Sam Kerr won the WSL and Women's FA Cup and won the domestic Golden Boot. Copyright 2022 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Beth had a career-best WSL season as she registered 11 goals, eight assists, and a staggering 72 chances – over 20 more than anyone else in the league. However, this is Viv's third Ballon d'Or nomination. It was won last year by Barcelona's Pedri.

Benzema, at 34, became the oldest winner since the first recipient in 1956, Stanley Matthews while Putellas became the first player to win the women's award ...

A panel of international journalists chose the winners. She has been sidelined since July after injuring her left knee and undergoing surgery on the eve of the Women's European Championship. Leading an attack that also included Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, Benzema played a crucial role last season to drive Madrid to a record-extending 14th European title, and his fifth since he joined from Lyon in 2009. Awarded by France Football magazine, the Ballon d’Or has been given out to men for 66 years. This is the Golden Ball of the people." “Age is just a number for me,” he said.

Paris (10/17/2022) – Fresh off another stellar season with the Washington Spirit, Trinity Rodman has arrived at today's 2022 Ballon d'Or ceremony at Theatre ...

The Ballon d’Or Féminin, which translates to ‘Women’s Golden Ball,’ is the premier football award presented to the top women’s player each year by French news magazine France Football. Launched in 2012, the Spirit play in the National Women’s Soccer League, the premier women’s soccer competition in North America. The Washington Spirit is the professional women’s soccer team based at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA and Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Rodman is nominated alongside 19 other women across the world for the prestigious annual award. Rodman was named a finalist for the award in August. Paris (10/17/2022) – Fresh off another stellar season with the Washington Spirit, Trinity Rodman has arrived at today’s 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.

Putellas has become the first female player to win the Ballon dOr for two years in a row; Arsenal and England forward Beth Mead was voted as runner-up after ...

"Without my team-mates this would not have been possible," said Putellas after picking up the award. England's Beth Mead was the runner-up for the award after guiding the Lionesses to the European Championships title, with Chelsea's Sam Kerr having to settle for third. Putellas has become the first female player to win the Ballon d'Or for two years in a row; Arsenal and England forward Beth Mead was voted as runner-up after guiding the Lionesses to European Championships glory; Chelsea's Sam Kerr finished third

The Real Madrid forward won the voting after a season when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were nowhere in sight. Barcelona's Alexia Putellas repeated as ...

That he has had to wait so long to flourish on his own accord is a measure of the height of the bar set by Messi and Ronaldo, and of the challenge of thriving in an era marked by twin greats. Benzema may not have been the decisive player in the Champions League final, an honor that fell to his teammate Vinícius Júnior, but he had unquestionably been the defining figure in Real’s journey to the final in Paris. When that advantage seemed to have been wasted in the return fixture, it was Benzema who lifted Real Madrid once more, scoring the extra-time goal that sealed its place in the semifinal. Benzema joined Real Madrid in the same summer as Ronaldo, though to rather less fanfare. And yet that assessment risks not only turning Benzema’s triumph into a subplot in a story of Messi and Ronaldo’s fall, but also ignoring the context for his victory. Benzema did not win the Ballon d’Or because Messi and Ronaldo finally fell to earth. (Benzema’s Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric was the other exception, in 2018.) It is the first time since 2006 that neither man has at least been on the podium. The blunt measures, of course, are the trophies — his fifth Champions League, another Spanish title — and the goals: 27 in La Liga, 15 in just a dozen games in Europe. Ferré hoped that measure — clearly directed at what might be regarded as legacy voters for Messi and Ronaldo — would make the Ballon d’Or an “open competition, rather than a preserve.” It is, after all, only the second time since 2008 that a player other than Messi or Ronaldo has been anointed as the best on the planet. (Ferré, more than a little disparagingly, said this new “elite” panel represented the “real connoisseurs” of the game.) But the tournament is a feeling that money can’t buy,

Washington Spirit's Rodman finished in 18th for the prestigious award and impressed on the red carpet.

This year’s Ballon d’Or Féminin went to Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas for the second year in a row. Women’s National Team, as well as the 2022 Challenge Cup and part of the 2022 NWSL season. It is awarded by French magazine France Football, which creates the shortlist of nominees.

Alexia Putellas has done it again! After becoming FC Barcelona's first ever winner of the women's Ballon d'Or in 2021, she has now on the coveted prize ...

This year she also received the highest distinction in Catalonian society, the Cross of Sant Jordi, but sadly missed out on the European Championships in England due to the knee injury that is still keeping her side-lined. She is the first ever Catalan winner in either the men's or women's categories. After the 2020 edition was cancelled due to Covid-19, Alexia now has a record two wins to her name.

Karim Benzema was awarded the 2022 men's Ballon d'Or on Monday after leading Real Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double.

He succeeds Barca teammate [Pedri](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/250465/Pedri), last year's winner. [Bayern Munich](/soccer/team?id=132)'s [Sadio Mane](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/169797/Sadio-Mané) and [Manchester City](/soccer/team?id=382)'s [Kevin de Bruyne](http://www.espnfc.com/socer/player/_/id/134947/kevin-de-bruyne), who came in second and third, respectively. Ballon d'Or organisers added a humanitarian prize named after the late Brazil midfielder Socrates. [Robert Lewandowski](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/125824/Robert-Lewandowski) won the Gerd Muller award for the best striker of the year, and Madrid's [Thibaut Courtois](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/134283/Thibaut-Courtois) won the Lev Yashin for best goalkeeper. [Borussia Dortmund](/soccer/team?id=124)'s [Jude Bellingham](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/291281/Jude-Bellingham) and [Bayern Munich](/soccer/team?id=132)'s [Jamal Musiala](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/303821/Jamal-Musiala). It's a lot of work; I never gave up and I kept that dream in my head. It's been difficult for me and that just makes me stronger mentally. "I had two role models in my life: Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] and [Brazil legend] Ronaldo. "I'm really proud seeing this prize, it's been my dream since I was a kid. [Gavi](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/323702/Gavi) won the Kopa Trophy, the award presented to the best player under age 21. "It's been difficult for me. PSG striker [Kylian Mbappe](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231388/Kylian-Mbappé) came in sixth, while [Manchester United](/soccer/team?id=360) forward [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/22774/Cristiano-Ronaldo) was 20th.

Thibaut Courtois was named man of the match in last season's Champions League final, but the Belgian goalkeeper came seventh in the Ballon d'Or rankings on ...

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Thibaut Courtois said he thinks it's "impossible" for a goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or after finishing seventh in the men's 2022 ranking.

"He has deserved it for years," Perez said to Cadena SER. "Third best team in 2021-22. Happy, Real Madrid?" "The votes don't go towards goalkeepers," Courtois said. [Rodrygo](https://www.espn.com/football/player/_/id/267804/rodrygo) and [Vinicius](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/257039/Vinicius) are two top players at 21 and 22 [...] Madrid only focus on the players we have and we're delighted with them." But at least they gave me the trophy for best goalkeeper." "In the top 10 there weren't any defenders either. "Obviously Karim deserves it, we all agree with that. [Toni Kroos](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/103173/Toni-Kroos) [tweeted](https://twitter.com/ToniKroos/status/1582123002744819712?s=20&t=IcA1od1_30hpomO6AOc63A). [Karim Benzema](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/46858/Karim-Benzema), [Sadio Mane](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/169797/Sadio-Mané), [Kevin De Bruyne](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/134947/Kevin-De-Bruyne), [Robert Lewandowski](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/125824/Robert-Lewandowski), [Mohamed Salah](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/173896/Mohamed-Salah) and [Kylian Mbappe](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231388/Kylian-Mbappé) in the shortlist. [Mike Maignan](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/189026/Mike-Maignan). [Thibaut Courtois](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/134283/Thibaut-Courtois) said he thinks it's "impossible" for a goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or after finishing seventh in the men's 2022 ranking despite his crucial role in [Real Madrid](/soccer/team?id=86)'s Champions League and LaLiga double.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been awarded the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper of the 2021-22 season.

Karim Benzema and Alexia Putellas were crowned at the Ballon d'Or in the least surprising news of 2022.

Yep, the Ballon d'Or is now an NFT... And in Karim Benzema, we have a worthy champion of the new era. Multiple reports suggest Gerrard will get the boot from Villa Park, maybe even before Thursday's match with Fulham in the Premier League. After all, he proved in Paris that he is not suited to managing superstars. He had plotted the ultimate route to redemption: get his coaching badges, end Celtic's quest for No. Over on the women's side, if you aren't called Alexia then give up now. “The Ballon d'Or® has entered the Web3 space. The Pole scored 111 goals across 2020 and 2021. The post-popularity era is upon us. The ultimate escape artist who could save not just himself, but also 10 team-mates and football’s most famous eyebrows, with his fearless finishing. OK, the second biggest goal after this legend: There was an even greater robbery in 2021.

FC Barcelona and Spain star Alexia Putellas retained the Ballon d'Or Féminin on Monday, the award presented to the best women's player of the last year, ...

And to thank everyone involved at the club off the pitch.” Madrid was voted in third, behind Liverpool in second and Manchester City in first – who many fans say play a more attractive style of football. I want to thank the technical staff and the coach as well. She faced stiff competition from the likes of Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze, who both won that competition with England. Rumors last week suggested the 23-year-old was unhappy at PSG and that he was looking for a move away from the club as soon as January, just months after spurning Real Madrid to sign an extension to stay in Paris. “I’m very happy to be back here,” Putellas said when accepting her award.

Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award for first time while Putellas won the women's award for a second time.

A panel of international journalists chose the winners. With Barcelona, she won La Liga and reached the Champions League final. Spanish player Alexia Putellas won the women’s trophy for the second straight year following another standout season with Barcelona.

Thibaut Courtois said he thinks it's "impossible" for a goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or after finishing seventh in the men's 2022 ranking.

"He has deserved it for years," Perez said to Cadena SER. "Third best team in 2021-22. Happy, Real Madrid?" "The votes don't go towards goalkeepers," Courtois said. [Rodrygo](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/267804/rodrygo) and [Vinicius](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/257039/Vinicius) are two top players at 21 and 22 [...] Madrid only focus on the players we have and we're delighted with them." But at least they gave me the trophy for best goalkeeper." "In the top 10 there weren't any defenders either. [Toni Kroos](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/103173/Toni-Kroos) [tweeted](https://twitter.com/ToniKroos/status/1582123002744819712?s=20&t=IcA1od1_30hpomO6AOc63A). "Obviously Karim deserves it, we all agree with that. [Karim Benzema](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/46858/Karim-Benzema), [Sadio Mane](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/169797/Sadio-Mané), [Kevin De Bruyne](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/134947/Kevin-De-Bruyne), [Robert Lewandowski](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/125824/Robert-Lewandowski), [Mohamed Salah](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/173896/Mohamed-Salah) and [Kylian Mbappe](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/231388/Kylian-Mbappé) in the shortlist. [Mike Maignan](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/189026/Mike-Maignan). [Thibaut Courtois](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/134283/Thibaut-Courtois) said he thinks it's "impossible" for a goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or after finishing seventh in the men's 2022 ranking despite his crucial role in [Real Madrid](/football/team?id=86)'s Champions League and LaLiga double.