Late honor for Karim Benzema: The 34-year-old striker from Real Madrid has been voted Europe's footballer of the year after his dream season with the royal team.
The Frenchman prevailed in the election of the European Football Union UEFA against his team-mate Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) and his compatriot Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City.
The continent's best soccer player is world soccer player Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona), who finished ahead of German international Lena Oberdorf (VfL Wolfsburg) and England's European champion Beth Mead (FC Arsenal).
"I'm very grateful and I thank my team and my club," said Benzema on the stage of the Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul.
"I am very happy."
For the coaches, Real's Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti (Italy) won, beating Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool FC) and Pep Guardiola (Spain/Manchester City).
Among the coaches, national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg lost out to winner Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands), who had triumphed with England in the final against Germany at the European Championships.
Sonia Bompastor (France/Olympique Lyon) was also nominated.
Benzema had towered over Real's Champions League triumph last season.
The Frenchman scored ten of his 15 goals in the premier class in the knockout stage - starting with three goals in the round of 16 against Paris Saint-Germain.
In the quarter-final second leg against Chelsea, the Frenchman secured progress with his goal in extra time.
In the semifinals, Manchester City scored three more goals with a penalty in extra time to reach the final.