Real Madrid attacker Karim Benzema won the prestigious Ballon d'Or for the first time at France Football's 2022 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

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Benzema was the overwhelming favourite to win the Ballon d'Or at Monday's ceremony in Paris, having won La Liga and the Champions League in 2021-22.

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He is the fifth Frenchman to claim the prize, the first since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.

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Thibaut Courtois, Benzema's Real Madrid teammate and winner of the 2022 Yacine Award, has been in superb form for the Spanish champions.

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The blue side of Manchester won the Club of the Year award, having had six nominees in the final Ballon d'Or list.

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Barcelona won the Kopa Trophy, which is presented to the young player of the year, second time in a row with Gavi winning the award.

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Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona won the Women's Ballon d'Or 2022, with Beth Mead of Arsenal coming in second.

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Karim Mostafa Benzema is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Real Madrid and captains the France national team.

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Benzema is widely regarded as one of the best strikers of all time. He is Real Madrid's second-highest all-time goalscorer and assist provider.

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With Real Madrid, Benzema has won 23 trophies, including four La Liga, two Copa del Rey, and five UEFA Champions League titles.

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Benzema, who was born in Lyon to Algerian parents, began his career with Olympique Lyonnais in 2005, contributing sporadically to three Ligue 1 titles.

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Benzema was the subject of a then-French record football transfer in 2009, when he joined Real Madrid for €35 million.

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Hafid, Benzema's father, was born in Tigzirt, while Wahida Djebbara, his mother, was born and raised in Lyon; her family is from Oran.

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