Karim Benzema’s ‘goal’: Ballon d’Or, Champions League and a World Cup in one year?

Real Madrid and France striker was named the world’s best male footballer in Paris

Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or after a sensational season for Real Madrid
Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or after a sensational season for Real Madrid
(Image credit: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

What a year it’s been for Karim Benzema. Last season the French striker scored 44 goals in 46 games as Real Madrid lifted the La Liga, Uefa Champions League, Spanish Super Cup and Uefa Super Cup trophies. And last night his personal achievements were also recognised as he was crowned the world’s best male footballer by being awarded the 2022 Ballon d’Or.

Enjoying the best season of his career, Benzema ended the 2021-2022 campaign as the leading goalscorer in both La Liga and the Champions League. His Ballon d’Or win means he also became the first Frenchman to receive the “golden football” since Zinedine Zidane in 1998. It was perhaps fitting that former Real head coach Zidane was on hand to present Benzema with the trophy, which is voted for by 100 journalists from around the world.

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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.