The 2022 Ballon d'Or was the 66th annual football ceremony presented by France football in recognition of the best footballers in the World during the 2021-22 season. For the first time in the award's history, it was given based not based on the results of the calendar year but of the season. Real Madrid's striker Karim Benzema won the men's award for the first time. He won the Champions League and LaLiga with Real Madrid and scored for them 44 goals in 46 matches. Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mane finished in second place while Manchester City star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne was third. The Kopa Trophy and best young player of the year award went to Barcelona midfielder Gavi.

Benzema becomes the oldest Ballon d'Or winner since Stanley Matthews won the first edition of the prize in 1956. “It makes me really proud, All the work I did, I never gave up. It was a childhood dream like all kids [have]. I had two motivations in my life - Zidane and Ronaldo. I've always had this dream in my mind that anything is possible. There was a difficult period when I wasn't on the French team, but I never stopped working hard or gave up. I always kept my head and concentrated on playing football and I'm really proud of my journey here. It wasn't easy, it was a difficult time. It was hard for my family as well. To be here today, for the first time for me, I'm happy and pleased with my work and I keep going. I want to thank my teammates, whether it's Real Madrid or the national team. My coach, thanks to him as well. The Real Madrid president as well. I have a lot of people to thank. It's an individual prize, but it's a collective one because everyone has played a role,” said Benzema.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bryune was voted the highest-ranking player currently playing in England as he finished third behind Senegalese star Sadio Mane. Barcelona star Alexia Putelas bagged the women's award after guiding the Catalan club to the Spanish title with a 100% points tally. Manchester City were named Club of the Year at the Paris ceremony after winning their fourth Premier League title in five seasons, beating runners-up Liverpool and Real Madrid to the prize. "We haven't won the Champions League yet, but we are proud of how we play as a team," said De Bruyne who picked up the award for the club. 

Former Liverpool winger Mane was the winner of the inaugural Socrates award, a humanitarian prize, for giving back to his native Senegal. "I'm really happy to do what I can for my people and to make everything better," said the Bayern Munich star. Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski, who like Benzema is also 34, was given the Gerd Muller award given to the best striker, after a superb season for Bayern Munich last term in which he scored 50 goals in 46 matches. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was given the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper prize. Liverpool goalkeeper Allison Becker was ranked as the second-best goalkeeper, with Manchester City's Ederson in third.