Beth Mead runner-up as Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas wins women’s Ballon d’Or

Putellas topped the vote ahead of the Arsenal striker and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr in third place

Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second successive year (Francois Mori/AP) (AP)

England forward Beth Mead finished runner-up as Barcelona and Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second successive year.

Putellas suffered a knee injury ahead of the start of Euro 2022, where Arsenal striker Mead went on to be top scorer and was named player of the tournament as the Lionesses soared to victory on home soil when they beat Germany in the final at Wembley.

“I’m very happy to be back here and pleased because a year ago I was able to win this prize and it pushed me to want to be even better,” Putellas said on collecting the trophy at a gala ceremony in Paris.

“Injuring my knee in July, I did not think it would be possible (to win this award).”

England Euro 2022 winners Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright had also been nominated for the women’s prize, ranking 10th and 15th respectively in the France Football poll.

Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema won the men’s award.

The 34-year-old took the top prize for the first time, finishing ahead of Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane, with Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne in third place.

Benzema helped Los Blancos win the Champions League, defeating Liverpool in the final.

The Kopa Trophy for the best performing player under 21 went to Barcelona’s Gavi, with England and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham having also made the final shortlist.

The Socrates Award, named after Brazil’s 1982 World Cup captain, for the best social initiatives within the game went to Mane, who has helped build hospitals and schools in his homeland Senegal.

The Gerd Muller trophy for the best striker again went to Lewandowski.

Manchester City were voted club of the year.