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Karim Benzema WINS the Ballon d’Or for the first time aged 34 after his 44-goal season fired Real Madrid to Champions League and LaLiga glory… with Sadio Mane coming in second and Kevin De Bruyne third

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Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema etched his name into history as he won the 2022 Ballon d’Or award.

At a glittering ceremony in Paris’ Theatre Du Chatelet on Monday night, the Frenchman clinched football’s most prestigious award ahead of Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.

It’s deserved recognition for the 34-year-old after his tremendous form this calendar year. He played a big role in Madrid’s Champions League glory in May and has continued to impress during the 2022-23 campaign.

Speaking after winning the award, Benzema said: ‘To see this prize in front of me makes me really proud. It was a childhood dream for me and all the work I have done, I never gave up.

‘I always had in my mind that anything was possible, when I was not in the France team I never stopped working hard.

‘I am really proud of my journey here. It was not easy, it was a difficult time and also for my family as well. To be standing here today for the first time, I am happy for my work and will keep going.

He became the ninth Real Madrid player to claim the award since 2000 and just the fifth Frenchman to ever win the trophy.

The other players included in the top ten, in descending order, were Erling Haaland, Luka Modric, Vinicius Jr, Thibaut Courtois, Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski.

2022 BALLON D’OR TOP 30 RANKINGS 

25= Darwin Núñez, Christopher Nkunku, Joao Cancelo, Antonio Rudiger, Mike Maignan, Joshua Kimmich

22= Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bernardo Silva 

 21. Harry Kane

 20. Cristiano Ronaldo

17= Luis Diaz, Dusan Vlahovic, Casemiro

16. Virgil van Dijk 

14= Fabinho, Rafael Leao

13. Sebastian Haller

12. Riyad Mahrez 

11. Son Heung-min 

10. Erling Haaland 

9. Luka Modric 

8. Vinicius Jr

7. Thibaut Courtois

6. Kylian Mbappe

5. Mohamed Salah

4. Robert Lewandowski

3. Kevin De Bruyne

2. Sadio Mane

1. Karim Benzema 

Sources: Mail sports

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Dani Alves released after paying €1 million bail for rape conviction

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Sources had informed ESPN last week that Alves was considering alternative options to raise the €1m, including freeing up some of his assets and asking money due to him by the Spanish tax office. Alves paid the payment on Friday, according to Spanish news agency EFE, citing judicial sources. On Monday, the court verified receipt of Alves' bail money and indicated he would be released within hours. To be released, Alves must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, pay bond, and not leave the country. He still has a home near Barcelona.

Former Brazil player Dani Alves was freed from prison on Monday after paying the €1 million ($1.08 million) bail necessary while awaiting the outcome of an appeal to his rape conviction, according to Reuters and Spanish court records.

On February 22, Catalonia’s top court convicted Alves of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022 and sentenced him to 4½ years in jail. He was granted bail on Wednesday but stayed in prison for the rest of the week after failing to come up with the funds on time.

Alves, accompanied by his lawyer, left the Brians 2 jail northwest of Barcelona soon before 4:30 p.m. local time, wearing a grey jacket over a white turtleneck, according to a Reuters videographer.

Sources informed ESPN last week that Alves was considering alternative options to raise the €1m, including freeing up some of his assets and asking for money due to him by the Spanish tax office.

Alves paid the payment on Friday, according to Spanish news agency EFE, citing judicial sources. On Monday, the court verified receipt of Alves’ bail money and indicated he would be released within hours.

To be released, Alves must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, pay bond, and not leave the country. He still has a home near Barcelona.

Alves is also prohibited from approaching or communicating with the victim within 1,000 metres (3,280 feet), and he is required to visit the courts once a week.

Ester García, the victim’s lawyer, criticised the decision to give Alves bail until his appeal, calling it “scandalous”.

“It is justice for the rich,” she stated.

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Ghana’s Evans Yamoah wins gold in men’s high jump at the African Games

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Despite facing great opposition from competitors like as South Africa's Mpho Benjamin and Hammouda Saad, Yamoah's outstanding performance catapulted him to victory, attracting viewers' attention and solidifying his image as a rising star in the world of athletics. Notably, this historic victory marks the first time Ghana has won gold in both the Men's and Women's High Jump events at the African Games, with Rose Yeboah successfully defending her Women's title. Ghana's athletics delegation has considerably contributed to the country's total medal tally in the Games, with Yamoah winning the gold medal and Joseph Paul Amoah winning the Men's 200m final.

Evans Yamoah Cadman created history in the 2023 African Games by winning the gold medal in the Men’s High Jump for Ghana, demonstrating his exceptional leaping abilities and culminating in an excellent performance in the continental arena.

Yamoah, along with fellow Ghanaians Ebenezer Gyimah and Kennedy Ocansey, exhibited exceptional talent, outperforming countless opponents to cement his place in Ghanaian and African sports history.

Throughout the competition, Yamoah had exceptional consistency, clearing nearly every height on his first try. Even at the difficult height of 2.16 metres, he persevered, finally succeeding on his second attempt. Surprisingly, he was the only participant to surpass the height of 2.23 metres, earning his well-deserved gold medal.

Despite facing great opposition from competitors like South Africa’s Mpho Benjamin and Hammouda Saad, Yamoah’s outstanding performance catapulted him to victory, attracting viewers’ attention and solidifying his image as a rising star in the world of athletics.

Notably, this historic victory marks the first time Ghana has won gold in both the Men’s and Women’s High Jump events at the African Games, with Rose Yeboah successfully defending her Women’s title.

Ghana’s athletics delegation has considerably contributed to the country’s total medal tally in the Games, with Yamoah winning the gold medal and Joseph Paul Amoah winning the Men’s 200m final.

Ghana’s excellent athletic performance has increased its medal count to 54, including 14 gold, 24 silver, and 17 bronze.

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2023 African Games: Joseph Paul Amoah wins gold in 200m

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Consider Emmanuel of Nigeria finished third, clocking 20.80 seconds. Amoah's compatriot, Ibrahim Fuseini, also displayed his abilities by finishing fourth in the extremely tough race.

Ghanaian sprinter Joseph Paul Amoah electrified the track after winning the gold medal in the men’s 200m final on Friday at the University of Ghana Stadium.

Amoah, who had previously won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, showed impressive form in both the heats and the semifinals, establishing himself as a strong contender for the final. With drive and skill, he executed a magnificent performance to win the coveted gold medal.

Amoah crossed the finish line in 20.70 seconds, securing first place on the podium. Following closely after was Cameroon’s Claude Emmanuel Itoungue Bogognie, who won silver in 20.74 seconds.

Consider Emmanuel of Nigeria finished third, clocking 20.80 seconds.

Amoah’s compatriot, Ibrahim Fuseini, also displayed his abilities by finishing fourth in the extremely tough race.

The victory in the men’s 200m follows Ghana’s earlier success in the day, when the women’s hockey team defeated Nigeria in the final. William Amponsah also added to Ghana’s medal count, winning a silver medal in the marathon event.

Joseph Paul Amoah’s amazing performance not only earned him a well-deserved gold medal, but it also cemented his reputation as one of Ghana’s top athletes on the world scene.

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