Karim Benzema Won the Golden Ball in FIFA 22 After a Stellar Season
The winner of the prestigious 2022 Golden Ball award, given to the best men‘s footballer of the year, is Karim Benzema. The French striker had an epic season with Real Madrid and spearheaded their Champions League victory. After years out of the French national team, he made his return to the World Cup stage in 2022 as well. With incredible goal-scoring exploits at the club level and international level, Karim Benzema was a standout contender and deserving winner of the Golden Ball trophy.
All About the Coveted Golden Ball Award
The Golden Ball award has been presented annually by FIFA since 1982 to the best performing player of the year. It is considered one of the highest individual honors in the sport, alongside the Ballon d‘Or. Winners are chosen through a voting process by media representatives from each country.
FIFA‘s Technical Study Group first draws up a shortlist of players based on factors like goals, assists, creativity, and impact. The media reps then vote to select the winner. Previous winners include legends like Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário, and Lionel Messi.
Examining Benzema‘s Standout 2021-2022 Season
Karim Benzema had a simply phenomenal season in 2021-2022, making him a prime candidate for the Golden Ball. Some key facts about his stellar campaign:
- Scored 44 goals in 46 games across all competitions for Real Madrid
- His 15 Champions League goals were vital to Real Madrid‘s record 14th European title
- Won UEFA Champions League top scorer award for first time in his career
- Finished 2nd top scorer in La Liga with 27 goals as Real Madrid won the title
- Best season of his career at age 34, winning Pichichi and UEFA POTY awards
Benzema proved himself as clearly one of the world‘s most lethal strikers. He reached a new level of prolific scoring and consistency that spearheaded Real Madrid‘s attack.
His incredible Champions League performances warrant a deeper look:
- Scored hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea in knockout stages
- Netted the extra time penalty to complete comeback vs Man City
- Overcame injury in final to lift trophy as Man of the Match
Without Benzema‘s timely goals, Real Madrid would likely not have lifted their 14th Champions League trophy in the dramatic comebacks he catalyzed.
Why Benzema Deserved the Golden Ball Over Other Contenders
While Benzema had stiff competition, his comprehensive performance for club and country make him a worthy Golden Ball winner.
The other shortlisted contenders included Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski, and Sadio Mane. Here‘s how Benzema compares:
| Player | Goals | Assists | Trophies | POTY Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benzema | 44 | 15 | Champions League, La Liga | UEFA POTY, Ligue 1 POTY |
| Messi | 11 | 15 | None | – |
| Mbappe | 39 | 26 | Ligue 1 | Ligue 1 POTY |
| Lewandowski | 50 | 7 | Bundesliga | Germany POTY |
| Mane | 23 | 5 | FA Cup, Africa Cup of Nations | African POTY |
While these players had excellent seasons worthy of recognition, Benzema topped them all by:
- Outscoring Lewandowski with 44 goals across fewer games
- Winning more significant trophies than Mbappe and Messi
- Playing pivotal role in Champions League unlike other contenders
- Earning multiple Player of the Year awards for standout performances
His incredible consistency and world-class performances when it truly mattered in the Champions League solidified him as deserving of the Golden Ball.
Benzema‘s Triumphant Return to the World Cup Stage
On the international stage, Benzema made his highly anticipated return to the French national team in 2022 after a scandal and falling out with the manager led to a lengthy absence.
Despite France‘s earlier than expected exit, Benzema made his mark:
- Scored 4 goals in 4 matches, including a brace against Denmark
- Formed promising attack partnership with Mbappe
- Won Bronze Ball as 3rd best player behind Messi and Mbappe
Though France could not defend their 2018 World Cup title, Benzema proved he was still a world-class striker on the international stage after 6 years away.
How Benzema Stacks Up Against Previous Golden Ball Winners
Benzema‘s victory puts him in elite company as a Golden Ball winner. Here‘s how the 2022 winner compares against previous recipients:
| Year | Winner | Key Achievements | Goals | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Messi | Copa America champion | 41 | 34 |
| 2019 | Messi | La Liga champion, top scorer | 51 | 32 |
| 2018 | Modric | Champions League winner | – | 32 |
| 2015 | Messi | Triplete winner, top scorer | 52 | 28 |
| 2022 | Benzema | UCL winner, Pichichi | 44 | 34 |
Some key observations:
- Benzema became the oldest winner since Stanley Matthews in 1956 at 34 years old.
- His 44 goals were the most by a Golden Ball recipient since Messi‘s 52 goal season in 2015.
- First French winner since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.
- Continues tradition of award going to Champions League winner (Modric, Cristiano, Messi).
Benzema‘s incredible season stacks up as one of the finest ever by a Golden Ball winner. His goal-scoring saw him reach heights matched only by legends like Messi and Ronaldo in recent times.
My Analysis: Benzema as the Face of Football in 2022
In my opinion as a football expert, Karim Benzema was the face of football in 2022. From his iconic Champions League performances to earning redemption with France, he defined an era in the sport.
Benzema demonstrated world-class consistency even at 34 years old. His timely goals and leadership propelled Real Madrid‘s Champions League magic. His chemistry with Mbappe also gave France hope for the future.
After being overshadowed by Ronaldo for so long, this was finally Benzema‘s defining year. He carried the torch for a new generation as Messi and Ronaldo regressed.
Winning the elusive Champions League top scorer prize and Golden Ball cements Karim Benzema as not just the player of the year, but a true legend of the sport. No other player made a bigger impact on the biggest stages of football in 2022.