Karim Benzema is pretty much nailed on to win the 2022 Ballon d'Or.

As we reported HERE, even Barcelona legend Lionel Messi is adamant that Real Madrid's main man should win the accolade for the very first time.

Benzema was exceptional throughout the entirety of 2021/22. In La Liga, the Frenchman scored 27 goals and assisted a further 12, helping Los Blancos regain Spanish football's biggest prize.

In the Champions League, the former Lyon man was equally brilliant. He finished with 15 goals and two assists, with 10 of the goals coming in the knockout stage of the competition.

Benzema's individual European campaign in 2021/22 will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest in history, especially as Real Madrid ended up lifting the trophy for a record-extending 14th time.

But how highly does it rank in terms of prolificacy since the competition was rebranded back in 1992/93?

Well, we've used Transfermarkt to work out the answer and it turns out Benzema's haul of 15 goals and two assists is only the eighth-best return by a player in one single edition of the Champions League.

Karim Benzema with the Champions League trophy
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after their sides victory during the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy after their sides victory during the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Check out who's ahead of Benzema and the rest of the top 20 below...

The 20 most prolific Champions League campaigns by a player (goals+assists)

=17. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus, 1997/98) | 10 goals & 4 assists | 14 goal contributions

=17. Raul Gonzalez (Real Madrid, 1999/00) | 10 goals & 4 assists | 14 goal contributions

=17. Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan, 2002/03) | 10 goals & 4 assists | 14 goal contributions

=17. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, 2014/15) | 10 goals & 4 assists | 14 goal contributions

16. Raul Gonzalez (Real Madrid, 2002/03) | 9 goals & 6 assists | 15 goal contributions

Raul Gonzalez celebrates a goal for Real Madrid
ROME - 17 SEPTEMBER: Raul of Real Madrid celebrates during the UEFA Champions League First Phase Group C match between AS Roma and Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy on September 17, 2002. Real Madrid won 3-0. (photo by Gary M.Prior/Getty Images)

ROME - 17 SEPTEMBER: Raul of Real Madrid celebrates during the UEFA Champions League First Phase Group C match between AS Roma and Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy on September 17, 2002. Real Madrid won 3-0. (photo by Gary M.Prior/Getty Images)

15. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, 2017/18) | 10 goals & 5 assists | 15 goal contributions

=13. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United, 2002/03) | 12 goals & 3 assists | 15 goal contributions

=13. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2018/19) | 12 goals & 3 assists | 15 goal contributions

12. Dwight Yorke (Manchester United, 1998/99) | 8 goals & 8 assists | 16 goal contributions

11. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2014/15) | 10 goals & 6 assists | 16 goal contributions

Lionel Messi celebrates a Champions League goal for Barcelona
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring the opening goal from a penalty kick during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates scoring the opening goal from a penalty kick during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Manchester City and Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium on February 18, 2014 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

10. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2010/11) | 12 goals & 4 assists | 16 goal contributions

9. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, 2021/22) | 13 goals & 3 assists | 16 goal contributions

8. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, 2021/22) | 15 goals & 2 assists | 17 goal contributions

7. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool, 2017/18) | 10 goals & 8 assists | 18 goal contributions

6. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, 2016/17) | 12 goals & 6 assists | 18 goal contributions

Cristiano Ronaldo in action with Real Madrid in the Champions League history
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 02: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates as he scores their third goal and completes his hat trick during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 02: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates as he scores their third goal and completes his hat trick during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, 2017/18) | 15 goals & 3 assists | 18 goal contributions

4. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2011/12) | 14 goals & 5 assists | 19 goal contributions

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, 2015/16) | 16 goals & 4 assists | 20 goal contributions

2. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, 2019/20) | 15 goals & 6 assists | 21 goal contributions

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, 2013/14) | 17 goals & 5 assists | 22 goal contributions
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal in the 2014 Champions League final
LISBON, PORTUGAL - MAY 24: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring their fourth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio da Luz on May 24, 2014 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

LISBON, PORTUGAL - MAY 24: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring their fourth goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio da Luz on May 24, 2014 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

So, not a single one of Messi's Champions League campaigns features in the top three, which is a bit of a surprise.

What's not a surprise is that Ronaldo dominates the top five with a trio of inclusions, although his incredible 2013/14 season only sits top of the pile by just one solitary goal contribution.

Lewandowski's 2019/20 ran the Portuguese superstar's historic effort mighty close and the Bayern striker actually played a game less in his season.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo is still top dog and it's yet another reason why he's often referred to as 'Mr Champions League'.

Champions League quiz: 20 questions on the all-time records