Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon d'Or with eight Manchester-based players named in the top-30.
After leading Real Madrid to another La Liga and Champions League double, the experienced France striker was an overwhelming favourite to pick-up the coveted award for the first time at the glittering Paris ceremony, which was staged at Theatre du Chalet. It proved to be the case as he won the award.
Sadio Mane and Kevin De Bruyne completed the top-three, while Manchester City striker Erling Haaland also found himself in the top-10 rankings. Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was, meanwhile, placed 20th and Old Trafford teammate Casemiro tied for 17th following his summer move to the club from Madrid.
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City were well-represented at the ceremony as six players found themselves nominated after Pep Guardiola and his star-studded side won yet another Premier League title last season. Of course, they were defeated by Benzema and his Real teammates in their elusive quest for European honours.
Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were among three players tied for 22nd and Portugal defender Joao Cancelo handed two votes to finish 25th in the rankings. Riyad Mahrez (12th) narrowly missed out on the top-10 as De Bruyne and his new teammate Haaland went on to head-up the City representation.
Haaland broke through into the top-10 and the Norway sensation will almost-certainly be in the reckoning in future years. But for now, centre stage at the Etihad Stadium goes to De Bruyne after the Belgium playmaker was placed in third behind Benzema and Mane.
Ballon d'Or 2022 rankings (top-10)
1: Karim Benzema - Real Madrid
2: Sadio Mane - Bayern Munich
3: Kevin de Bruyne - Manchester City
4: Robert Lewandowski - Barcelona
5: Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
6: Kylian Mbappe - PSG
7: Thibaut Courtois - Real Madrid
8: Vinicius Jnr - Real Madrid
9: Luka Modric - Real Madrid
10: Erling Haaland - Manchester City
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