Benzema won the Ballon d’Or, yesterday evening, in a ceremony in Paris ahead of Sadio Mane in second and Kevin De Bruyne in third, with the striker becoming the first French winner of the Ballon D'Or since Zinedine Zidane, who presented him the award, in 1998.

Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 matches last season for Real Madrid, who won LaLiga and the Champions League; Sadio Mane finished in second place while Kevin De Bruyne was third; Barcelona midfielder Gavi was given the Kopa Trophy as the best young player of the year.

The 34-year-old managed 44 goals in 46 matches last season as Real won the Champions League, another LaLiga title along with the Spanish and European Super Cups.

The striker is also the oldest Ballon D'Or winner since Stanley Matthews won the first edition of the prize in 1956.

"It makes me really proud," said Benzema. "All the work I did, I never gave up. It was a childhood dream like all kids [have]. I had two motivations in my life - Zidane and Ronaldo. I've always had this dream in my mind that anything is possible.