Real Madrid’s French striker Karim Benzema has admitted that he did everything in his power this season to become the most prominent candidate for the Ballon d’Or after helping his team win the Champions League.
Benzema missed out in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Liverpool after the winner was signed by young Brazilian Vinicius Junior, but the Frenchman was the top scorer in the continental competition this season with 15 goals, including 10 in the play-offs .
After the match against Liverpool, the French footballer told Canal Plus when asked if he had thought about the Ballon d’Or, which France Football magazine awards to the world’s best player every year: “Of course, now I will join the national team, but I think that on I can’t do better at club level, we’ll see what happens, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.”
Benzema scored a hat-trick against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the quarter-finals and quarter-finals respectively, in addition to a home goal against the Blues and three goals in two legs against Manchester City in the semi-finals.
“There is no luck, you can get lucky once, but not every time,” said Benzema, referring to the wonderful “remontade” that Real Madrid achieved several times on the way to the Champions League final and became the first team to win the title. despite three playoff losses. We deserved to win, put in a lot of effort, came back every time and never gave up.”
“We are a group and every player in it is important. Starters, substitutes who do not play, but give their all in training.
Benzema, 34, will join the French squad for a series of matches in the European Nations League next June, after he finished the season with 44 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions, including 27 in the league, which contributed to the team’s victory. champion of Spain.
The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on October 17 ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.
