Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema who scored 44 goals in 46 games as he helped Real win the Champions League and La Liga in 2021/2022 season won the award for the best male footballer beating Sadio Mane of Bayern Munich and Kevin de Bruyne who came second and third respectively.
Alexia Putellas of Barcelona won the best female footballer award while Manchester City won Club of the Year award beating their Premier League Rivals Liverpool.
Benzema became the first Frenchman to win the prestigious award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998. Zidane was at the event to present his countryman with the prize.
The 34-year-old, who has been at Real Madrid since 2009 was the overwhelming favorite to win this year’s award and had the following to say after winning the award:
This prize in front of me makes me really proud. When I was small, it was a childhood dream, I never gave up. Anything is possible. I’m really proud of my journey here. It wasn’t easy, it was a difficult time for my family as well.