Karim Benzema Wins Ballon D’Or For First Time; Alexia Putellas Bags Women’s Trophy – In Pics

Karim Benzema won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time on Monday after a brilliant season with Real Madrid capped by the UEFA Champions League and Spanish La Liga titles. Spanish player Alexia Putellas won the women’s trophy for the second straight year following another standout season with Barcelona. Benzema had his best season ever at Madrid, being the top scorer in both leagues. He scored 44 times for Madrid, including 15 in Europe’s top competition, and equalled Raúl González as the club’s second-highest scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema, at 34, became the oldest winner since the first recipient in 1956, Stanley Matthews. Benzema became the fifth Frenchman to win it after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin and Zinedine Zidane, who was crowned in 1998, the year France won its first World Cup.

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66th Ballon d'Or ceremony

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