France October 18, 2022: Karim Benzema has won the Ballon d’Or, becoming only the fifth Frenchman to do so and at 34 years old is the oldest winner since Stanley Matthews in 1956.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had won 12 of the last 13 Ballon d’Ors – with Real Madrid’s Luka Modric winning as the sole outlier in 2018 – but Messi was not even nominated for the 2022 award. Ronaldo finished 20th this year.
Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas grabbed the Ballon d’Or Feminin for the second year running.
The complete list of winners from the 66th Ballon d’Or ceremony
Ballon d’Or: Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid)
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Yashin Trophy: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid)
Kopa Trophy: Gavi (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Gerd Müller award: Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich/FC Barcelona)
Socrates Prize: Sadio Mané (Senegal, Liverpool/Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Manchester City (England)
