After an exceptional season, French striker Karim Benzema has won the first Continental individual honors that could portend many awards this year.
The European Football Association (UEFA) on Tuesday announced French striker Karim Benzema, the Spanish striker of Real Madrid, as the best player in the Champions League this season.
Benzema’s top scorer led Real Madrid to the Champions League title after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final last Saturday.
The award for the best young player went to Brazil’s Vinicius Junior, Benzema’s colleague, who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final in Paris.
The UEFA Technical Committee has chosen the ideal squad for the Champions League this season, with Benzema and Vinicius on the attacking line, as well as PSG striker Kylian Mbappe.
The team included Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibault Courtois, who made a significant contribution to his club’s 14th continental title and won the best player award in the final, along with fellow midfielder Luka Modric.
Liverpool participated with four players in a perfect squad, with a defensive trio of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, and midfielder Fabinho, while Egypt’s top scorer Mohamed Salah was absent.
Also in the starting lineup were Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger.
