by winning his fifth C1, Karim Benzema is very close to his first Ballon d’Or

0

At the final whistle, Karim Benzema raised his arms to heaven. Alone, in the midst of several Liverpool players, the Real Madrid striker savored the moment soberly. Like a good old habit. He did not have time to do it alone for long, because very quickly, a tide of merengue players, including Marcelo, Rodrygo and other of his teammates, who rushed on him. Him, the best Real player, to celebrate this new victory in the Champions League, acquired on Saturday May 28 against Liverpool (1-0) at the Stade de France.

As with his first four successes in the competition, the task of lifting the big-eared Cup did not fall to him. It was Marcelo, captain but substitute, who took charge of it to make the 20,000 Madrid supporters present at the Stade de France scream with happiness. But whatever. All eyes seemed to be on him, because Benzema knows it: a prophet in his country on Saturday evening, he could soon reign alone on the roof of world football.

On October 17, at the Théâtre du Châtelet, he will have all the latitude to raise the Ballon d’Or as he wishes. Because the latter now seems promised to him. Author of a huge season (46 games, 44 goals, 15 assists), the French international is, at 34, at the top of his game. Winner of La Liga this season, this Champions League is also and above all his. Even though he did not achieve the greatest performance at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The Frenchman believed for a moment that he opened the scoring a few minutes before half-time, before seeing his goal be invalidated for an offside position. It is his pupil this season, Vinicius, the impetuous and once clumsy Brazilian, but who has made immense progress this season thanks to the wise advice of “KB9”, who delivered Real. But thinking back to the course of the Madrid club, how can we not underline the preponderant role of Benzema? Without him, Real would never have reached Paris.

A hat-trick against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 second leg, four goals against Chelsea in the quarter-finals, three against City in the semi-finals. Benzema has reigned in the Champions League this season – top scorer with 15 goals in 11 games – as he has ruled world football for many months. By winning his fifth Champions League on Saturday night, he is one win away from Francisco Gento’s record and joins legends of the game such as Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, Alfredo Di Stefano or Cristiano Ronaldo.

He could now join Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin and Zinédine Zidane, other French winners of the Ballon d’Or. This shows the extent of what Benzema has accomplished this season. Since his return to the Blues a year ago to compete in the Euro, the Real striker has taken on a new dimension. Totally fulfilled, on top physically despite an advanced age for a footballer (34 years old), Benzema is untouchable.

Who could compete with him today when he was the huge favorite before this final? Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, his two main competitors, failed on Saturday evening to win a second Champions League. Salah stumbled on a huge Courtois. And in case of doubt, let’s not forget that the votes could be dispersed between Salah and Mané, which would play into Benzema’s hands.

“The Ballon d’Or? Obviously, it’s in the back of my mind. There, I’m going to go to the selection. In club, I can’t do better”said the attacker at the microphone of Canal + at the end of the meeting.

The ultimate reward could therefore arrive on October 17. Until then, Benzema will still have the opportunity to assert himself as the best striker on the planet, alongside Kylian Mbappé. Before discussing with him, not in club but in selection, the last major objective of his immense career: the World Cup, which will begin on November 21 in Qatar. Winning it would only reinforce his status as a legend in French football.


source site-33