Karim Benzema and Alexia Putellas claim 2022 Ballon d'Or awards

Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema won the 2022 men's Ballon d'Or award.

The 34-year-old took the top prize for the first time, finishing ahead of Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane with Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne in third place.

Benzema helped Los Blancos win the Champions League, defeating Liverpool in the final.

"To see this prize in front of me makes me really proud. It was a childhood dream for me and all the work I have done, I never gave up," he said after collecting the 2022 Ballon d'Or.

"I always had in my mind that anything was possible, when I was not in the France team I never stopped working hard.

"I am really proud of my journey here. It was not easy, it was a difficult time and also for my family as well.

"To be standing here today for the first time, I am happy for my work and will keep going."

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or for the second successive year.

Putellas suffered a knee injury ahead of the start of Euro 2022, where Arsenal striker Mead, who finished second, went on to be top scorer and was named player of the tournament as the Lionesses soared to victory on home soil.

"I'm very happy to be back here and pleased because a year ago I was able to win this prize and it pushed me to want to be even better," Putellas said on collecting the trophy at a gala ceremony in Paris.

"Injuring my knee in July, I did not think it would be possible (to win this award)."

The Kopa Trophy for the best performing player under-21 went to Barcelona's Gavi.

The Socrates Award, named after Brazil's 1982 World Cup captain, for the best social initiatives within the game went to Bayern Munich forward Mane, who has helped build hospitals and school in his homeland Senegal.

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