The striker of Real Madrid and the French national team Karim Benzema was recognized as the best player of the last season according to the version of the French newspaper France Football. This became the first Ballon d'Or for a representative of France after Zinedine Zidane, from whom Benzema received the award.
Last season, the 34-year-old football player won the Spanish La Liga and the Champions League with the cream of the crop. He has 27 goals and 12 assists in the championship, as well as 15 goals and 2 assists in the Champions League.
The first ten nominees for the "Golden Ball" according to the voting results:
1. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France)
2. Sadio Mane (Bayern, Senegal)
3. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
4. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
6. Kylian Mbappe (PSG, France)
7. Thibaut Courtois (Real, Belgium)
8. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil)
9. Luka Modric (Real, Croatia)
10. Erling Holland (Manchester City, Norway).