Lionel Messi Pipped by Karim Benzema to 2022 Ballon d'Or

Karim Benzema Wins First Ever Ballon d'Or

French striker Karim Benzema has been crowned the winner of the 2022 Ballon d'Or, beating out seven-time winner Lionel Messi and other top contenders.

Benzema, 34, had a stellar season with Real Madrid, scoring 44 goals in all competitions and leading the club to victory in the Champions League and La Liga.

This is Benzema's first Ballon d'Or award, and he becomes the oldest player to win the award since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

Messi Finishes Runner-Up

Lionel Messi, who has won the Ballon d'Or a record seven times, finished in second place this year.

Messi had another strong season with Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 11 goals in 34 Ligue 1 appearances.

However, it was not enough to match Benzema's impressive campaign with Real Madrid.

Other Notable Contenders

Other notable contenders for the 2022 Ballon d'Or included Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane, and Kevin De Bruyne.

Lewandowski, who won the award in 2020, finished in third place this year.

Mane, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, finished in fourth place.

De Bruyne, who won the Premier League title with Manchester City, finished in fifth place.

Historic Night for Benzema

Benzema's victory is a historic moment for the French striker.

He is the first French player to win the Ballon d'Or since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.

He is also the first player to win the award after scoring more than 40 goals in a season since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014.