Karim Benzema won the 2022 Men’s Ballon d’Or after the Real Madrid striker saw his herculean efforts in 2021-22 rewarded with the most illustrious individual award in European football.
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The results of this year’s awards revealed at Monday’s gala also signalled something of a sea change as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, both fixtures at the Ballon d’Or polls for 15 years, recorded incredibly disappointing finishes in the ballot.
Previously, at least one or both players had finished in the top three of the vote every single year since 2007, but the 2022 final standings saw Ronaldo wash up down in 20th place (his lowest ranking since 2005) while Messi didn’t even make it on to the 30-man shortlist at all.
Ronaldo and Messi first appeared together in the top three of the Ballon d’Or vote back in 2007 when they respectively finished second and third behind winner Kaka in the final poll.
Ronaldo then ascended to win his first Ballon d’Or in 2008, sparking a prolonged era of domination for both himself and his rival as they proceeded to share the next 10 awards between them.
Here we chart the two players’ respective Ballon d’Or finishes year by year, starting with Ronaldo’s maiden success some 14 years ago.
