Benzema, Putellas win Ballon d’Or as Kerr finishes third again

Sam Kerr has again finished third in the Ballon d’Or, which was won for a second straight year by Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas.

Chelsea striker Kerr, the only Australian in the top 20, also came third last year. Real Madrid star Karim Benzema won the men’s award at the gala ceremony, which was held in Paris on Monday night (Tuesday AEDT).

“There was a difficult period where I wasn’t in the French team but I never stopped working hard or gave up,” Benzema said.

“Really proud of my journey here. It wasn’t easy it was difficult. To be here today for the first time, I am happy, pleased for my work and want to keep going.”

Benzema, 34, had his best season at Madrid. He scored 44 goals with Madrid, including 15 in the Champions League, and equalled Raul Gonzalez as the club’s second-highest scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He won ahead of Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne.

Putellas was injured on the eve of the Euros and has not played since June but her club form was enough to secure her first place ahead of England’s Beth Mead, who topped the Euros scoring charts.

“I am very happy to be back here. Winning last year’s prize pushed me to get even better,” Putellas said on collecting the trophy. “Injuring my knee in July, I did not think it would be possible (to win this award).”

The Spaniard scored 42 goals and delivered 22 assists last season as Barcelona won the Spanish league and reached the final of the Champions League, which they lost to Lyon.