French striker, Karim Benzema has won the 2021/22 Ballon d’Or at the Théâtre du Châtelet in France after driving Real Madrid on to a record 14th European title, and his fifth since he joined from Lyon in 2009. His final tally of 15 goals – including a joint-record ten in the knockout stages – earned him top spot in the Champipns League scoring charts, with 27 in the Spanish Liga also a domestic best.
The Real Madrid striker also became the first Frenchman to claim the award since Zinedine Zidane did in 1998
The evergreen 34-year-old started the campaign by helping France to UEFA Nations League glory and never looked back, consecutive hat-tricks in the Champions League knockout stages against Paris and Chelsea the highlights of a goal and trophy-filled season.
Benzema beat off competetions from Barcelona’s Lewandowski, Sadio Mane of Bayern Munich and others to win the award.
2021/22 in numbers
Achievements
UEFA Champions League winner, UEFA Champions League Player of the Season, UEFA Nations League winner, Spanish Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner
UEFA Champions League
Appearances: 12
Goals: 15
Assists: 1
Player of the Match awards: 4
Domestic League
Appearances: 32
Goals: 27
Assists: 12
Top three performances
Real Madrid 3-1 Paris
Two down on aggregate in the last 16 with half an hour remaining, Carlo Ancelotti’s men were heading out of the Champions League with a whimper. Step forward Benzema, who forced an error from Gianluigi Donnarumma to give his side hope before completing his hat-trick within 17 minutes to seal a sensational turnaround.
Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid
Benzema carried on that form in the quarter-final first leg, this hat-trick taking a more modest 25 minutes to compile. Two terrific headers in a three-minute purple patch left the holders reeling and the treble duly arrived seconds after half-time as he pressed the hosts into submission.
Spain 1-2 France
Having kick-started Les Bleus’ remarkable comeback against Belgium in their Nations League semi-final, he repeated the feat in the showpiece. Two minutes after falling behind, France levelled thanks to Benzema’s stunning 66th-minute curling strike before going on to lift the trophy.
