Barcelona's Alexia Putellas wins the award for the second time
the spanish Alexia putellas, Barcelona forward, made history by becoming the first woman to win a second Ballon d'Or, this Monday (17) in Paris, after having won the trophy in 2021, also becoming the eleventh player, both for both men and women, to obtain the prize more than once.
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“I'm very happy, very happy. When we managed to win the first one, I decided to improve this year to put myself at the service of the team”, said Putellas, after receiving the trophy from the hands of former Ukrainian player Andrei Shevchenko, winner of the trophy in 2004.
“Without my companions I wouldn’t be here. I want to thank the coaching staff and the people who helped me improve every day. To all the people who work at the club”, he added.
In a campaign in which she scored 34 goals and provided 21 assists in 43 games, Putellas, despite losing the Champions League final, was the top scorer in the European tournament, with eleven goals, and was elected the best player in the competition, reaching a week the UEFA award for best player of the season.
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With this second award, Putellas joins a select group of eleven footballers who have already won the award on more than one occasion, together with Lionel Messi (seven times), Cristiano Ronaldo (five times), Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco Van Basten (three), Alfredo Di Stéfano, Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Karl Heinz Rummenigge and Ronaldo Fenômeno (twice).
Unsurprisingly, Karim Benzema takes home the award
French striker Karim Benzema ended his magnificent 2021-2022 season by winning the Ballon d'Or.
There was no surprise. His great season with Real Madrid, being fundamental in winning the Spanish League and the Champions League, was decisive.
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Benzema's numbers last season left no doubt. He was the most decisive element in the Spanish championship, with 27 goals in 32 games, which earned him the 'Pichichi' trophy for top scorer, and 15 goals in the Champions League (compared to Lewandowski's 13), with hat-tricks in the round of XNUMX and quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and a semi-final double against Manchester City.
Benzema is the fifth French player to win the Ballon d'Or, after Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984 and 1985), Jean Pierre Papin (1991) and Zinedine Zidane (1998).
Raí made the “L”
A declared supporter of the former president and current presidential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), soccer star Raí, brother of Sócrates, who passed away in 2011, made the signature gesture of the PT campaign during an awards ceremony in Paris.
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Called to the stage to present the “Socrates award”, which honors football players involved in social causes, the São Paulo idol and four-time world champion for the Brazilian team indirectly mentioned the second round of elections, scheduled for October 30th, and stated that everyone knows which side Socrates would be on. Next, he made the 'L' with his hand.
Lula (PT) thanked the gesture through social media.
(To AFP)
