“He is stronger than anyone at the moment”, in Bron, everyone believes in the coronation of Karim Benzema

The Léo-Lagrange stadium in the Bron-Terraillon district is the stronghold of the Benzemas, his hometown, in the suburbs of Lyon. The starting point of his journey which brings him to the gates of a coronation this Monday, October 17 at the ceremony of Ballon d’Or France Football.

>> Ballon d’or 2022: why the trophy is promised to Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema, a gifted footballer whom Mebarek Sebti, the club’s under-14 educator, still calls Coco. “It’s his neighborhood“, recalls this friend of the footballer for 25 years. “He lived there, just in front of the stadium and he played all the time. We tried to take the ball from him, it was impossible“, he says with a smile.

Already at the time, the French striker impressed everyone: “He was a pure striker, in all situations he was able to turn a ball into a goal“, explains Merbarek Sebti. He also remembers a Karim Benzema invested in the young people of the club: “I trained the kids in U13, he often came to each training and he stayed for the kids, it gave great motivation.“

For this educator from Lyon, this success is fully deserved and the fruit of hard work. “What he knew how to do was work, work and work. No wonder he got where he is today“, he says. And his example is inspiring within the club, where many young people wear the shirt of Real Madrid, club of Karim Benzema, flocked with the famous number nine.

“He started in a small club and he ends up in one of the best clubs in the world“, explains Lazreg, full of admiration. For Naïl, there is no doubt: “He’s the greatest striker in the world.” “He had a good Champions League. He’s the best, stronger than anyone right now in 2022,” Mohammad adds. “I will watch of course, I think he will come if he has the Ballon d’Or, I hope“, he says. Karim Benzema awaited as the new … Messi by those he has never forgotten.