The congratulations flow after the coronation of Karim Benzema, this Monday, October 17. At 34, the French football international, Real Madrid striker, received the 2022 Golden Ball_,_
a title that rewards the best soccer player of the year.
“We felt the potential”
“Better late than never“, reacts this Tuesday morning Mathieu Bodmer at the microphone of France Bleu Normandie. The current sports director of the HAC and Karim Benzema played together from 2007 to 2009, in the ranks of Olympique Lyonnais. At the time, the new Golden Ball was barely 19 years old. “Me when I played with him the first year, he finished top scorer in the championship, he is the best player in the championship at 20 and he is already in the France teamremembers today Mathieu Bodmer. We felt the potential. He was doing things that no one on the pitch knew how to do.”
“He is an example for many”
Since then, Karim Benzema has left the Lyon bench for Real Madrid. And for Mathieu Bodmer, the new Ballon d’Or has always known stay at the highest level : “Staying thirteen seasons at Real is not trivial, winning five Champions Leagues is not trivial. It is a career that is extraordinary and it is an example for many.“
He concludes : “It is an example of seriousness and love of football. He’s a player everyone loves to watch play. It’s a great reward for everyone.“
And this reward, the French have been waiting for it for a long time. The last time it was in 1998 with Zinedine Zidanewho himself succeeded Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini and Jean-Pierre Papin.