Champions League winner clears away
Late honor for Karim Benzema: The 34-year-old striker from Real Madrid has been voted Europe’s footballer of the year after his dream season with the “Royal”. The Frenchman prevailed in the election of the European Football Union UEFA against his team-mate Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) and his compatriot Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City.
“I’m very grateful and I thank my team and my club,” said Benzema on the stage of the Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul. “I’m very happy.” The attacker had excelled in Real’s Champions League triumph last season. The Frenchman scored ten of his 15 goals in the “premier class” in the knockout stages – starting with the hat-trick in the round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain. In the quarter-final second leg against Chelsea, the Frenchman secured progress with his goal in extra time. In the semi-finals, Manchester City again scored three goals with a penalty in extra time to reach the final.
UEFA Player of the Year: 9 different winners since 2011
2022 – Winner: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
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2nd place: Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) | 3rd place: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
2021 – Winner: Jorginho (Chelsea)
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2nd place: Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) | 3rd place: N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)
2020 – Winner: Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern)
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2nd place: Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) | 3rd place Manuel Neuer (Bayern)
2019 – Winner: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
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2nd place: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | 3rd place: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
2018 – Winner: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
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2nd place: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) | 3rd place: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
2017 – Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
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2nd place: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | 3rd place: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
2016 – Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
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2nd place: Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid) | 3rd place: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
2015 – Winner: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
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2nd place: Luis Suarez (FC Barcelona) | 3rd place: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
2014 – Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
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2nd place: Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern) | 3rd place: Arjen Robben (Bayern)
2013 – Winner: Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern)
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2nd place: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) | 3rd place: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
2012 – Winner: Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
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Shared 2nd place: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) & Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
2011 – Winner: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
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2nd place: Xavi (FC Barcelona) | 3rd place: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Real’s Carlo Ancelotti, who prevailed against Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool FC) and Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), won for the coaches. “There is no magic formula for victory. But I have a great passion for this sport. It was a special season because we had a very good squad, a good mix of experienced and young players. The chemistry in the team was right, especially with the fans,” explained the Italian.
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