The highly-anticipated Ballon d'Or 2022 ceremony takes place tonight. Here is how and where to watch the event take place, with a first-time winner potentially being crowned.
Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema is the hot favourite to win the men's award, having scored 44 goals last season and helped his side to three trophies, including the Champions League.
The judging process is different this time around, as the period that counts is the 2021/22 season, rather than the previous calendar year.
Given the Frenchman's incredible campaign, it will surely take something special to deny him his first-ever Ballon d'Or crown. The bookmakers certainly seem to be thinking that way.
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If Benzema does win the award, it would be the second time in five years that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo has scooped the top prize. Ronaldo is nominated for his 25 goals for Manchester United last season. Messi, however, is not on the list for the first time since 2005, despite winning the Ballon d'Or in 2021.
Apart from Benzema, the other contenders for the award will likely include Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Erling Haaland.
Meanwhile, the winner of the Ballon d'Or Feminin 2022 will also be named. Barcelona's Alexia Putellas is hoping to retain her crown, but faces strong competition from the likes of Lyon and France defender Wendie Renard, Arsenal and Netherlands striker Vivienne Miedema, and Lionesses trio Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright.
Here is all you need to know about how to watch the Ballon d'Or 2022 ceremony, including the live stream details:
Ballon d'Or 2022: Is the ceremony on TV? Which channel is it on?
The Ballon d'Or 2022 ceremony is not going to be broadcast on live TV in any European country.
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The event has not been broadcast on television in Europe for a number of years. In 2018, beIN Sports carried coverage of the ceremony in the United States, whilst Indian viewers can watch this year's ceremony on SONY TEN 2.
Ballon d'Or 2022: Is there a live stream?
Yes, viewers can tune in to the Ballon d'Or 2022 ceremony via live stream. French media outlet L'Equipe will be streaming full coverage of the ceremony on their official YouTube channel and website.
The live stream is expected to commence at around 3:30pm UK time, but the ceremony itself doesn't get underway until 7:30pm.
Topics: Ballon d'Or, Karim Benzema, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane
Ryan Smart