And there you have it – Karim Benzema, Ballon d’Or 2022 winner. If that has come as a shock to you, then where have you been the past 12 months?
Benzema’s prize is thoroughly well deserved after a 2021-22 season that saw him cement his status as one of the best centre-forwards of his generation, and a Real Madrid icon.
He won three trophies over the course of the campaign, including a La Liga-Champions League double, while he was also instrumental in France winning the UEFA Nations League.
With uncertainty surrounding the Santiago Bernabeu following the slightly surprising summer appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as manager, Madrid needed to get off to a good start, and Benzema helped ensure they did just that.
He scored twice, including the Blancos’ first goal of the campaign, in their season-opening 4-1 win away at Alaves, though they did drop points the following week against Levante.
Benzema provided two assists in that 3-3 draw, and backed that up by crossing for Dani Carvajal to score the only goal of the game against Real Betis to round out the month.
Congrats Benzema!