News: Benzema is crowned world's best
Well done Karim Benzema
It was announced in a glitzy ceremony that he has won the Ballon d'Or for the first time.
Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games as he helped Real win the Champions League and La Liga in during a hugely successful 21/22 season
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had won the award on 12 of the previous 13 occasions.
Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane, who was at Liverpool in 2021-22, was second. Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne was third.
Premier League champions Manchester City, who had six nominees at the ceremony, were awarded Club of the Year ahead of Liverpool.
Reaction
Vinicius Junior posted the following tweet:
Karim Benzema told the media in attendance that it was always his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or.
One City fan told us: "Understandable that Benzema won it. I'm sure if we win the Champions League this season, one or our players will win the award next season."
Another added: A certain Norwegian forward will surely be in the running next season if he keeps us this incredible run of form going.