Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema hold their trophies as women’s and men’s players of the year during the soccer Champions League draw ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday — AFP Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was named UEFA Player of the Year and Carlo Ancelotti took the coaching honours after they led the club to a record-extending 14th Champions League title last season, reports Reuters.
Benzema was in red-hot form, scoring 15 times in the competition and lifting the trophy for a fifth time in his career after the Spanish side beat Liverpool in the final.
Barcelona women's Alexia Putellas won the women's player of the year, beating England's Beth Mead and Germany's Lena Oberdorf to the top prize.
Putellas, who won award last year along with the Ballon d'Or, netted 34 goals for Barcelona last season as the club won all the domestic trophies and reached the Champions League final.
However, the 28-year-old did not play in the Euros after tearing her knee ligaments in training.
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