The 2022 Golden Ball is Karim Benzema . As expected, last night in Paris the Real Madrid striker was finally able to lift the trophy , given to him by Zinedine Zidane, the last Frenchman to be crowned before him.
"I am very proud to receive this award. It is the result of a lot of work, effort, training but above all it is the fulfillment of a dream I had as a child", the words of the striker, who at the age of 34 crowns a long career. of successes.
Benzema effectively puts an end to the domination of the duo Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo , who since 2008 had only been interrupted by another madridista, the Croatian Luka Modric, in 2018. The Frenchman, 35 years old in December, "blossomed" after leaving of CR7 from Madrid and arrived on the Paris stage with an unparalleled curriculum: winner of the Champions League and the Spanish Liga, of the Nations League with the national team, top scorer and best Spanish player, 50 goals in all competitions.
Benzema has already raised the UEFA player of the year trophy last summer and, now also bolstered by the Golden Ball, will be ready in Qatar to drag the Bleus to the bis world champion, with whom he aims to reach the finish line of the center attendance (now he is at 97) and cancel the almost six-year ban following the involvement, with relative conviction, in the judicial investigation for an alleged blackmail against his national teammate Valbuena.
Disappointed two years ago by the cancellation of the award due to Covid, which he would have won for sure, Robert Lewandowski obtained fourth place, behind Sadfio Manè, second, and Kevin De Bruyne, third, and must console himself with the trophy "Gerd Muller ”, assigned to the striker who scored the most goals between club and national team, 57 centers. The “Yashin” award goes to Real's Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois. The women's Ballon d'Or goes to Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas, who repeats the title won last year by overcoming Arsenal striker Beth Mead, the new European champion with England.
Among the other winners, the 18-year-old Barcelona Gavi is awarded the “Kopa” prize to the best young player, while the Bayern Munich striker Mané goes the “Socrates” award dedicated to the players most involved in social and charitable projects.
(Unioneonline / vl)
