Ballon d’Or results LIVE: Winners revealed as Karim Benzema beats Sadio Mane and Kevin De Bruyne to award

Karim Benzema has won the men’s Ballon d’Or, becoming just the second player outside of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be awarded the prize in the past 15 years. Benzema won the trophy after leading Real Madrid to the LaLiga and Champions League double last season and scoring a remarkable 44 goals in 46 appearances for the Spanish club.

Benzema finished ahead of Sadio Mane, Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski at the Paris ceremony to crown a sensational year for the France international, as he followed his Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric by breaking through Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance of football’s greatest individual prize.

Earlier, Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas became the first two-time winner of the Ballon d’Or Feminin after taking back-to-back awards. England and Arsenal forward Beth Mead, who was the top scorer at Euro 2020, finished second, ahead of the Chelsea striker Sam Kerr. Barcelona midfielder Gavi won the Kopa Trophy for best young player while Thibaut Courtois won the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper. Follow all the live updates, reaction and analysis from the most prestigious individual award in European football:

Ballon d’Or 2022

• Karim Benzema wins the Ballon d’Or

• Alexia Putellas wins back-to-back Ballon d’Or Feminin awards

• Barcelona midfielder Gavi wins the Kopa Trophy

• Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois wins the Yashin Trophy

• Rankings 4th to 2nd: Lewandowski, De Bruyne, Mane

• Rankings 7th to 5th: Courtois, Mbappe, Salah

• Rankings 10th - 8th: Haaland, Modric, Vinicius Jr

• Rankings 14th-11th: Leao, Fabinho, Haller, Mahrez, Son

• Rankings 19-15th: Diaz, Vlahovic, Casemiro, Van Dijk

• Rankings 24-20th: Silva, Foden, Alexander-Arnold, Kane, Ronaldo

• Rankings 30-25th: Nunez, Nkunku, Cancelo, Rudiger, Maignan, Kimmich

Ballon d’Or: Karim Benzema wins the Ballon d’Or!

21:10 , Jamie Braidwood

There are emotional scenes as Benzema invites his mother and then son onto the stage in Paris.

It’s a special night not just for Benzema but French football as he becomes the fifth player from the country to win the award.

Ballon d’Or: Karim Benzema wins the Ballon d’Or!

21:04 , Jamie Braidwood

The top four of the rankings as confirmed, with Sadio Mane in second place, Kevin De Bruyne third and Robert Lewandowski fourth.

It comes as a video tribute is played for Benzema, with praise from Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho.

“He keeps getting better with age,” Ancelotti says of his captain.

Incredibly, at 34 Benzema is the oldest Ballon d’Or winner since Stanley Matthews won the first Ballon d’Or in 1956.

Ballon d’Or: Karim Benzema wins the Ballon d’Or!

20:56 , Jamie Braidwood

Zidane opens the envelope and declares the winner of the Ballon d’Or to be... Karim Benzema!

A special moment for Benzema, who completes a stunning year by becoming the first French winner of the Ballon d’Or since Zidane in 1998.

“Karim, Karim, Karim,” cry the crowd in Paris!

“This prize in front of me makes me proud of the work I did from a young age. “I had the motivation, I had two role models in my life, Zidane and Ronaldo. I always had this dream in my mind that anything was possible.

“There were difficult periods where I wasn’t in the French team but I kept working hard. I’m really proud of my journey here. It wasn’t easy, it was difficult. It was hard for my family as well. To be here today, I’m just really happy. I would like to thank my team-mates.”

Ballon d’Or

20:54 , Jamie Braidwood

But now we are onto the final prize, which will be awarded by the last French player to win the Ballon d’Or: Zinedine Zidane.

Ballon d’Or - Manchester City win Club of the Year

20:45 , Jamie Braidwood

And now it is time for the final prize of the evening. A former winner in 2000, Luis Figo will present the 2022 award. “The King of Dribbling”, Drogba declares.

Oh, not quite there yet. First we will have the ‘Club of the Year’ award, and it is handed to Manchester City after winning their fourth Premier League title. Bit of a surprise as I expected Real Madrid to win that.

City had six nominees for the Ballon d’Or and beat Liverpool and Real Madrid to the honour, which is collected by Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson.

De Bruyne: “I’ve been there for eight years and we try to play in the right way, to play in a way that would inspire kids to play. We have won a lot, not quite the Champions League just yet, but we are proud with how we play.”

Ballon d’Or

20:41 , Jamie Braidwood

So that leaves just four names for the men’s award: Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski.

Ballon d’Or: Thibaut Courtois wins Yashin Trophy!

20:36 , Jamie Braidwood

Here’s the rankings for the Yashin Trophy:

1st: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

2nd: Alisson (Liverpool)

3rd: Ederson (Manchester City)

4th: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)

5th: Mike Maignan (AC Milan)

Ballon d’Or: Thibaut Courtois wins Yashin Trophy!

20:33 , Jamie Braidwood

A deserved award for the Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was man of the match as his team defeated Liverpool in the Champions League final. Of all the clean sheets he kept last season, in stopping Liverpool in the 1-0 win that was by far the most important. Courtois is unquestionably the best goalkeeper in the world right now.

Sebastian Haller, who finished 13th in the Ballon d’Or and is in Paris, presents Courtois with the trophy. The Beglian finished ahead of Alisson, Edouard Mendy, Mike Maignan and Ederson to win the award.

Ballon d’Or: Top 10 continues

20:29 , Jamie Braidwood

There’s another top-five finish for Mohamed Salah in the men’s Ballon d’Or as the Liverpool forward finishes ahead of PSG striker Kylian Mbappe. Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois is the top goalkeeper in this year’s rankings and will soon be confirmed as the Yashin Trophy winner.

5th: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

6th: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

7th: Thibaut Courtoius (Real Madrid)

Ballon d’Or: Robert Lewandowski wins the Gerd Muller award

20:22 , Jamie Braidwood

... and for the second year in a row, Robert Lewandowski wins the Gerd Muller award! Before leaving Bayern Munich, Lewandowski broke Muller’s single-season record for goals in a Bundesliga season. “Because of him, I could do it,” Lewandowski says. “He is an inspiration to me.”

Lewandowski scored 57 goals in all competitions in his eighth and final season with Bayern Munich.

Ballon d’Or

20:19 , Jamie Braidwood

Next up is the Gerd Muller trophy for best striker, named after the former Bayern Munich and Germany forward.

Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas wins back-to-back awards!

20:07 , Jamie Braidwood

Here’s the ranking of the Ballon d’Or Feminin, with England and Arsenal striker Beth Mead in second place, ahead of the Chelsea striker Sam Kerr.

1st: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

2nd: Beth Mead (Arsenal)

3rd: Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

4th: Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)

5th: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)

6th: Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)

7th: Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)

8th: Wendie Renard (Lyon)

9th: Catarina Macario (Lyon)

10th: Lucy Bronze (Manchester City)

Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas wins back-to-back awards!

20:00 , Jamie Braidwood

Alexia Putellas is a two-time Ballon d’Or winner! Despite suffering a serious knee injury and missing the Euro 2020 finals, the Spain midfielder becomes the first two-time winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or after scoring 24 goals for Barcelona last season.

“I’m very happy to be back here. A year ago I was able to win this prize and it’s customary to aim to get better. Without my team-mates this would not have been possible. They are here tonight and I want to thank our coaches and staff as well.”

Even after missing several months due to her knee injury, and with a long road ahead, the Barcelona captain currently stands above everyone else in the women’s game. Her performances at the sold-out Camp Nou in Barcelona’s Champions League run were sublime.

She says she hopes to be back fit in time for the Women’s World Cup next summer. “The battle is not won yet.”

Ballon d’Or: Ballon d’Or Feminin contenders

19:59 , Jamie Braidwood

Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead and Sam Kerr will now contest the Ballon d’Or Feminin award.

Former AC Milan, Chelsea and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko will present the prize and takes a moment to share a message with the world following the ongoing conflict in his homeland.

“I am proud of my country,” he says. “It is important to remember that the war is ongoing and to stay on the side of Ukraine.”

Ballon d’Or: Sadio Mane wins the Socrates Award

19:57 , Jamie Braidwood

Sadio Mane is announced as the first winner of the Socrates Award. Named after the former Brazil captain, the award aims to promote a safer, more equitable and inclusive world through sport. Mane, as a player who gives back to his community in Senegal by helping to build hospitals in his hometown, is a worthy winner.

Ballon d’Or: Top 10 countdown continues

19:54 , Jamie Braidwood

Erling Haaland, despite scoring 42 goals in just 39 appearances, finishes in 10th place in last season’s Ballon d’Or. That will become much higher next season, following his move to Manchester City.

He is followed by Luka Modric, who remained peerless in guiding Real Madrid to their 14th Champions League title, and Vinicious Junior, the scorer of Real Madrid’s winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Liverpool.

8th: Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

9th: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

10th: Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)

Ballon d’Or: Gavi wins the Kopa Trophy!

19:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Here’s the complete rankings with Bellingham fourth and Saka eighth:

1st: Gavi (Barcelona)

2nd: Eduardo Camavinga (Rennais, Real Madrid)

3rd: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)

4th: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

5th: Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP, Paris Saint-Germain)

6th: Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig)

7th: Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax)

8th: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

9th: Karim Adeyemi (Red Bull Salzburg)

10th: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

Ballon d’Or: Gavi wins the Kopa Trophy!

19:43 , Jamie Braidwood

And the Kopa Trophy will be staying at the Nou Camp! Gavi is the 2022 Kopa Trophy winner!

Like Pedri before him, Gavi became a Barcelona and Spain regular in midfield at the age of just 18 last season. He helped Barcelona to qualify for the Champions League under Xavi after an improved second half of the season.

Drogba says Gavi and Pedri already remind him of Xavi and Iniesta.

The midfielder is then presented with his own... NFT.

Ballon d’Or

19:42 , Jamie Braidwood

Karim Benzema is sitting in the front row alongside Sadio Mane and Kevin De Bruyne, who is next to his former Manchester City colleague Lucy Bronze. Alexia Putellas is alongside the previous winner of the Ballon d’Or Feminin Ada Hegerberg.

There are loads of legends in the crowd too, including Zinedine Zidane and El Phenomenon Ronaldo. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo will present tonight’s first award alongside last season’s Kopa Trophy winner Pedri.

Ballon d’Or

19:38 , Jamie Braidwood

Like last year, the former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is helping to conduct the ceremony, which will be presented in both French and English.

Ballon d’Or

19:35 , Jamie Braidwood

The ceremony begins with Andrea Boccelli singing a rendition of Nessun dorma in full Italia 90 style, as the trophies are then brought out on stage in front of a montage of previous winners.

Ballon d’Or:

19:21 , Jamie Braidwood

The Ballon d’Or trophy has arrived.... strapped onto the top of an F1 car. The Alpine driver Esteban Ocon, who races for the only French F1 team, then gets out of the car and delivers the trophy ahead of the ceremony. Quite an entrance.

Ballon d’Or: Contenders for Ballon d’Or Feminin

19:15 , Jamie Braidwood

The rankings for the Ballon d’Or Feminin have yet to be announced, so all 20 nominees still have a chance of lifting this year’s award. Alexia Putellas, last season’s winner, remains the favourite.

• Selma Bacha (Lyon)

• Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)

• Millie Bright (Chelsea)

• Lucy Bronze (Manchester City)

• Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Christiane Endler(Lyon)

• Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)

• Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

• Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Catarina Macario(Lyon)

• Beth Mead (Arsenal)

• Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal)

• Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave)

• Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)

• Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)

• Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)

• Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

• Wendie Renard (Lyon)

• Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)

• Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or: Favourite Benzema arrives

19:09 , Jamie Braidwood

Back in Paris, Karim Benzema arrives ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremomy.

“Happy to be here,” he says. “It’s my first time. Hope to have great news tonight.”

Ballon d’Or: Rankings so far from 30 -11

18:58 , Jamie Braidwood

11th: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)

12th: Riyad Mahrez(Manchester City)

13th: Sébastien Haller (Ajax)

=14th: Fabinho (Liverpool)

=14th: Rafael Leão (Milan)

16th: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

= 17th: Casemiro (Real Madrid)

= 17th: Dušan Vlahović (Fiorentina, Juventus)

= 17th: Luis Díaz (Porto, Liverpool)

20th: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Manchester United)

21st: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

= 22nd: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

= 22nd: Phil Foden (Manchester City)

= 22nd: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

= 25th: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

= 25th: Mike Maignan (Milan)

= 25th: Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea)

= 25th: João Cancelo (Manchester City)

= 25th: Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

= 25th: Darwin Núñez (Benfica)

Ballon d’Or: Red carpet underway

18:40 , Jamie Braidwood

The starts are arriving on the red carpet ahead of the start of the ceremony at 7:30pm. The trickle of rankings results has stopped for now but the top 10 will be revealed soon.

Ballon d’Or: Previous winners

18:29 , Jamie Braidwood

Karim Benzema tonight has the chance to break through Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s dominance of the Ballon d’Or by joining Luka Modric as an outlier over the past 15 years, but spare a thought for Robert Lewandowsi who would have won had the ceremony been held in 2020.

2021 - Messi

2019 - Messi

2018 - Modric

2017 - Ronaldo

2016 - Ronaldo

2015 - Messi

2014 - Ronaldo

2013 - Ronaldo

2012 - Messi

2011 - Messi

2010 - Messi

2009 - Messi

2008 - Ronaldo

Ballon d’Or: Benzema’s golden year

18:16 , Jamie Braidwood

Benzema scored an astonishing 44 goals in 46 appearances for Real Madrid but it will be his form in the Champions League knockout stages that will be remembered if he is the winner of the Ballon d’Or tonight.

Across seven remarkale games, Benzema:

• Scored a hat-trick against PSG to overturn a 1-0 defeat

• Scored another hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

• Scored the winner in extra-time to knock out Chelsea in the QFs

• Scored twice against City including a panenka in the SFs

• Scored the winner against City to send Madrid to the final

• Won his fifth Champions League title after Madrid beat Liverpool

Ballon d’Or: Revealing the top 10

18:04 , Jamie Braidwood

So that leaves the following players to complete the top 10 - but in what order will they be?

• Karim Benzema

• Thibaut Courtois

• Kevin De Bruyne

• Erling Haaland

• Robert Lewandowski

• Kylian Mbappe

• Luka Modric

• Mohamed Salah

• Sadio Mane

• Vinicius Junior

Ballon d’Or: Son Heung-min (11th)

18:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Ranked 10 places higher than his Tottenham strike partner Harry Kane, Son just misses out on the top 10 after a sensational season for Spurs where he shared the golden boot with Mohamed Salah with 23 goals. Son, who is the leading Asian player in the rankings, was also named in the Premier League team of the season after helping Tottenham qualify for the Champions League.

Ballon d’Or: Riyad Mahrez (12th)

17:56 , Jamie Braidwood

Mahrez set a career-best tally of goals last season as he scored 24 times for Manchester City in all competitions. This included 11 in the Premier League as he won his fourth title and seven in the Champions League as City reached the semi-finals, where Mahrez scored in the Bernabeu before Real Madrid’s comeback.

Ballon d’Or: Fabinho (=14th)

17:51 , Jamie Braidwood

Fabinho scored eight goals for Liverpool last season, his best return for the club, but he also returned to his best in screening Jurgen Klopp’s defence in the run to the Champions League final. An injury late in the season meant he missed the FA Cup final and wasn’t fully match fit for the Champions League final.

Ballon d’Or: Rafael Leao (=14th)

17:46 , Jamie Braidwood

Another player who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or for the first time, the Portugal forward played a crucial part in AC Milan’s first Serie A triumph in 11 years. With 11 goals and 10 assists, he was named the league’s MVP for last season.

Ballon d’Or: Virgil van Dijk (16th)

17:41 , Jamie Braidwood

After missing the previous season due to an ACL injury, Van Dijk returned to full fitness and was back to his best to help Liverpool reach their top level, too. The defender was named in both the Premier League and Champions League team of the season.

Ballon d’Or: Casemiro (=17th)

17:35 , Jamie Braidwood

The Brazil midfielder remained as pivotal to Real Madrid as ever as he helped the club win the La Liga title and their 14th Champions League. It was Casemiro’s fifth Champions League and he left the Bernabeu in the summer after an emotional goodbye but as a club legend.

Ballon d’Or: Dusan Vlahovic (=17th)

17:31 , Jamie Braidwood

Another player who moved clubs mid-season, Vlahovic also enjoyed a breakthrough season in which he scored a stunning 17 goals in Serie A for Fiorentina before January - catching the eye of Europe’s biggest clubs. He remained in Italy and joined Juventus, where he scored within seconds of his Champions League debut, and has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or for the first time.

Ballon d’Or: Luis Diaz (=17th)

17:25 , Jamie Braidwood

The winger enjoyed a breakthrough season after his form for Porto caught the eye of Manchester United and Tottenham, but it was Liverpool who swept to sign the Colombian in January. He made an instant impact to help the Reds to the Champions League final, win the League Cup and FA Cup and earn a first nomination for the Ballon d’Or.

Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo (20th)

17:21 , Jamie Braidwood

After returning to Manchester United, Ronaldo scored 18 Premier League goals at the age of 37 to earn himself a 17th nomination for the Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo scored a series of late winners on his return, as well as a hat-trick against Tottenham in March. However after United were knocked out of the Champions League at the round of 16 phase and suffered their worst Premier League season, Ronaldo tried to leave Old Trafford this summer.

Ballon d’Or: Harry Kane (21st)

17:16 , Jamie Braidwood

After signalling that he wanted to leave Tottenham in the summer, Kane got back to business once the season began as he scored 27 goals in all competitions to help Antonio Conte’s side qualify for the Champions League. The England captain continues to break goalscoring records for both club and country, while his performance in the 3-2 win at Manchester City was one of the best individual displays of last season.

Ballon d’Or: Trent Alexander-Arnold (=22nd)

17:11 , Jamie Braidwood

Alexander-Arnold enjoyed another superb season for Liverpool as the Reds won a domestic double and reached the Champions League final. The right back recorded 12 assists as he was named in the Premier League’s team of the season for the third time, as well as the Champions League team of the season.

Ballon d’Or: Phil Foden (=22nd)

17:04 , Jamie Braidwood

Already a four-time Premier League champion at the age of 22, Foden had the best season of his career for City after scoring nine Premier League goals and winning the division’s young player of the year award for the second consecutive season. Played a key role in City’s comeback against Aston Villa on the final day.

Ballon d’Or: Bernardo Silva (=22nd)

16:56 , Jamie Braidwood

Silva won his fourth Premier League title in another outstanding campaign for Manchester City, in which he was probably their best player over the first few weeks of the season. The Portugal international was once again named in the Premier League team of the season and scored 13 goals for City in all competitions.

Ballon d’Or: Joshua Kimmich (=25th)

16:48 , Jamie Braidwood

One of two players representing Bayern Munich last season on the list, Kimmich again helped the Bavarians to the Bundesliga title, which is already the seventh of the 27-year-old’s career. Last season may not have been his greatest, but the Germany international remains one of Europe’s best.

Ballon d’Or: Mike Maignan (=25th)

16:41 , Jamie Braidwood

One of just two goalkeepers on the 30-player shortlist, Maignan played a staring role as AC Milan won their first Serie A title in 11 years last season. The France international was named Serie A’s goalkeeper of the season.

Ballon d’Or: Antonio Rudiger (=25th)

16:33 , Jamie Braidwood

Like Cancelo, Rudiger was named in the Premier League team of the season as the German defender helped Chelsea to a top-four finish. With his contract coming to an end, he left Stamford Bridge as a fan favourite and joined European champions Real Madrid.

Ballon d’Or: Joao Cancelo (=25th)

16:25 , Jamie Braidwood

The Portuguese full-back won his second Premier League title for Manchester City in which he played an even greater role in their attack under Pep Guardiola, adding seven assists as his side beat Liverpool to the title.

Ballon d’Or: Christopher Nkunku (=25th)

16:20 , Jamie Braidwood

Another first-time Ballon d’Or nominee, Nkunku was named the Bundesliga player of the season after a stunning campaign for RB Leipzig in which he scored 20 goals and made 13 assists from attacking midfield. It came as he received his first France cap and a big money move is set to follow in the coming years.

Ballon d’Or: Darwin Nunez (=25th)

16:15 , Jamie Braidwood

Darwin Nunez enjoyed a breakthrough 2021/22 season, scoring 26 goals in 28 appearances for Benfica in Primeira Liga and adding six goals in the Champions League. The Uruguay striker became one of the most sought after strikers in Europe and earned a £85m move to Liverpool at the end of the season, as well as a first nomination for the Ballon d’Or.

Ballon d’Or: Rankings unveiled

16:12 , Jamie Braidwood

The Ballon d’Or rankings are starting to be released, beginning with SIX players who have finished in an equal share of 25th place.

Ballon d’Or

16:10 , Jamie Braidwood

Last year’s Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Alexia Putellas has arrived in Paris alongside her new Barcelona team-mate and former winner Lucy Bronze. Barcelona were beaten by Lyon in last season’s Champions League final and the French side have won nominees to Barcelona’s four.

Ballon d’Or: Who is nominated for the Yashin Trophy?

15:58 , Jamie Braidwood

Ten players have been nominated for the prize of best goalkeeper:

• Alisson (Liverpool)

• Yassine Bounou (Sevilla)

• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

• Ederson (Manchester City)

• Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)

• Mike Maignan (Milan)

• Édouard Mendy (Chelsea)

• Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

• Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid)

• Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Ballon d’Or: Who is nominated for the Kopa Trophy?

15:48 , Jamie Braidwood

Ten players have been nominated for the best performing player under the age of 21:

• Karim Adeyemi (Red Bull Salzburg)

• Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

• Eduardo Camavinga (Rennais, Real Madrid)

• Gavi (Barcelona)

• Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax)

• Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig)

• Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP, Paris Saint-Germain)

• Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)

• Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

• Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

Ballon d’Or

15:38 , Jamie Braidwood

Liverpool and Manchester City met an Anfield yesterday in an ill-tempered clash but between them last season’s title rivals make up 12 of the 30 players in the shortlist for the men’s award.

Ballon d’Or

15:33 , Jamie Braidwood

The Ballon d’Or ranking reveal is set to begin at any moment ahead of the ceremony at 7:30pm tonight, where the top three for the men’s and women’s awards will be announced.

Ballon d’Or: Stars heading to Paris

15:25 , Jamie Braidwood

Real Madrid stars Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois, who are expected to win tonight’s Ballon d’Or and Yashin Trophy respectively, are on their way to Paris. Meanwhile Arsenal are sending stars Bukayo Saka, Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead on the same plane from London.

Ballon d’Or: Who is nominated for the women’s award?

15:20 , Jamie Braidwood

• Selma Bacha (Lyon)

• Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona)

• Millie Bright (Chelsea)

• Lucy Bronze (Manchester City)

• Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Christiane Endler(Lyon)

• Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)

• Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

• Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Catarina Macario(Lyon)

• Beth Mead (Arsenal)

• Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal)

• Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave)

• Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg)

• Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)

• Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)

• Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

• Wendie Renard (Lyon)

• Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)

• Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or: Who are the favourites?

15:15 , Jamie Braidwood

Karim Benzema - 1/20

Sadio Mane - 12/1

Mohamed Salah - 14/1

Kylian Mbappe - 20/1

Kevin de Bruyne - 25/1

Robert Lewandowski - 30/1

Ballon d’Or 2022: Who is nominated for the men’s award?

15:10 , Jamie Braidwood

• Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

• João Cancelo (Manchester City)

• Casemiro (Real Madrid)

• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

• Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

• Luis Díaz (Porto, Liverpool)

• Fabinho (Liverpool)

• Phil Foden (Manchester City)

• Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)

• Sébastien Haller (Ajax)

• Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

• Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

• Rafael Leão (Milan)

• Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

• Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)

• Mike Maignan (Milan)

• Sadio Mané (Liverpool)

• Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Luka Modrić (Real Madrid)

• Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

• Darwin Núñez (Benfica)

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Manchester United)

• Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea)

• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

• Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

• Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)

• Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

• Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

• Dušan Vlahović (Fiorentina, Juventus)

When is the Ballon d’Or

15:05 , Jamie Braidwood

The Ballon d’Or 2022 ceremony will take place on Monday 17 October. It will begin at 7:30pm BST at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

How can I watch it?

The ceremony will be broadcast live on L’Equipe’s YouTube channel.

Good afternoon

15:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. Karim Benzema is the red-hot favourite to win the men’s award and the French striker comes off a fine weekend, inspiring Los Blancos to victory over Barcelona in El Clasico, and is the leading contender to win the men’s prize after also leading Real Madrid to their 14th Champions League title last season.

Poland forward Robert Lewandowski was controversially snubbed last year despite a historic year with Bayern Munich, which forced the the rules to be changed. France Football confirmed that player performances from the season and not the calendar year would be considered, while media voters would be restricted to the top 100 countries in the Fifa rankings for men and the top 50 nations from the women’s rankings.