Ballon d'Or: Karim Benzema wins the award for the best soccer player in the world for the first time Real Madrid and France striker Kari...

Ballon d'Or: Karim Benzema wins the award for the best soccer player in the world for the first time

Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema has won the Ballon d'Or - the award for the best footballer of the year - for the first time.

Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games as he helped Real win the Champions League and La Liga in the 2021-22 season.

Lionel Messi (seven) and Cristiano Ronaldo (five) had won the award 12 times out of the last 13.

Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane, who was at Liverpool in the 2021-22 season, was second ahead of Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne.

Barcelona's Alexia Putellas retained the Women's Ballon d'Or award, given to the best female footballer of 2022.

England Euro 2022 winner and Arsenal striker Beth Mead was second.

Premier League champions Manchester City, who had six players nominated at the ceremony, were awarded Club of the Year ahead of Liverpool.

The Ballon d'Or is awarded to the best footballer of the year, based on his performance in the 2021-22 season.

The first Frenchman to win the award since 1998

Monday's celebrations in Paris saw French F1 driver Esteban Ocon arrive at the Theater du Chatelet with the Ballon d'Or trophy in a racing car.

Benzema is the first Frenchman to win the honor since Zinedine Zidane in 1998. Zidane was at the event to present the award to the player.

"This award in front of me makes me very proud," said Benzema. "When I was young, it was a childhood dream, I never gave up, anything is possible.

"I'm really proud of my journey here. It wasn't easy, it was a difficult time for my family too."

Benzema is the favorite to win this year's award.

His 44 goals included a hat-trick in 17 minutes of the second half against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and another away to Chelsea in the quarter-final first leg.

He also scored three more goals in two semi-final matches against Manchester City.

The 34-year-old, who has been with Real Madrid since 2009, is expected to play a key role for France at the World Cup in Qatar starting on November 20.

The Ballon d'Or award is voted for by 100 journalists from around the world.