The Real Madrid striker picked up the trophy in Paris on Monday, but where did the rest of the 30 nominees place on the final list?
It's been the worst kept secret in football for months, but finally it's official – Karim Benzema is the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner. The Real Madrid striker picked up the Golden Ball at the annual ceremony in Paris following his superb 2021-22 season for both club and country.
Benzema's was rewarded for the lead role he played in Madrid winning both the Champions League and La Liga, while he also lifted the Nations League trophy with France back in October 2021.
Benzema, though, was just one of 30 nominees for the most prestigious individual award in world football, and has revealed the final standings of where all 30 ranked after the final voting.
Neither six-time winner Lionel Messi or his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar made the cut, but it is still a list packed with some of the biggest and best players in the global game.
Getty Images=25. Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
Rudiger went from being out in the cold at Chelsea under Frank Lampard to one of the best centre-backs in world football under Thomas Tuchel, and impressed enough to earn a summer move to Real Madrid.
AdvertisementGetty=25. Joao Cancelo – Manchester City
An underwhelming signing as a right-back in 2019, Cancelo has developed into one of the best left-backs in the world, with his ability to drift inside and provide goals and assists that most midfielders would be proud of almost unmatched.
(C)Getty Images=25. Christopher Nkunku – RB Leipzig
Nkunku beat off competition from Robert Lewandowski to win the Bundesliga Player of the Season award after a goal-laden campaign for Leipzig that was topped off by winning the DFB-Pokal in May.
Getty=25. Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich
Kimmich continues to be one of the most underrated footballers in the world as he played a key role in Bayern claiming a 10th successive Bundesliga title.