Karim Benzema, the best player on the planet last season, is at the center of the attention of the football public tonight, but before the Real Madrid goal scorer was awarded the Ballon d’Or, some other players had their few minutes under the spotlights at the ceremony in Paris.The winners of awards for the best young player, goalkeeper and scorer, for contribution to football off the field, the best female footballer…The first on the stage was the 18-year-old midfielder of Barcelona, Gavi, who was awarded the Kopa trophy for the best young player in the 2021/2022 season. handed over to last year’s winner and teammate Pedri, and the name of the winner was read by the famous Brazilian Ronaldo.Congrats Gavi! Your new Tropha Kopy winner! #trophéekopa #ballondor pic.twitter.com/14FQdgAuSh— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@francefootball) October 17, 2022 Behind Gavi in terms of the number of votes in the Top 10 were, in order, Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund) and Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen).The best among goalkeepers is Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, otherwise seventh in the selection for the Ballon d’Or. Allison (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) and Mike Maignan (Milan) were also in the closest competition to take over the award from Gianluigi Donnarumma.##NAJAVA_MECA_6734043##Since last year, when the Gerd Müller award was probably introduced as an alibi and was awarded to Robert Lewandowski as a consolation because the Ballon d’Or went to Leo Messi for the seventh time, it again went to the Polish striker. Then he received it as a player of Bayern Munich, now Barcelona. In the 2021/2022 season. Lewandowski scored 50 goals in 46 games while playing for the Bavarians and seven more with the Polish national team.Tonight’s ceremony is the first of many to present the Socrates trophy, a recognition for contribution to football off the field. The maiden winner is former Liverpool striker, now at Bayern Munich, Sadio Mane. The Senegalese striker is known to be humble and someone who regularly helps the poor in his homeland, so it is not surprising that he received this award.Sadio Mané, after receiving the Socrates Award 👀#ballondor @peaceandsport pic.twitter.com/b5NBhyMcgI— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@francefootball) October 17, 2022 For the second time in a row, Alexia Putellas from Barcelona was declared the best female footballer. Although she is currently injured, she managed to win the double crown in Spain with her team without losing a game, but the Catalan women were defeated in the final of the Champions League by Lyon. She primarily deserved the award because, although she plays in the middle of the field, she was the top scorer in the championship with 18 and the Champions League with 11 goals.😘😘😘 #ballondor pic.twitter.com/biZUQbso2j— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@francefootball) October 17, 2022 There was not much dilemma in choosing the best player. And it seemed there was no dilemma when voting for the most successful football club last season. Hardly anyone expected that the recognition would not go to the Spanish and European champion Real Madrid. However, the Royal Club was only in THIRD place. Second is Liverpool, and the trophy went to Manchester City?!The reasoning is that not only the results of the men’s team, but also the women’s team, as well as the number of nominees in other categories, were counted for the overall rating. Certainly, a strange choice.Manchester City is the club of the year!Congrats 💙#clubdelannée #ballondor pic.twitter.com/BtftAv5XWL— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@francefootball) October 17, 2022
