Karim Benzema “deserved the podium” but his fourth place at the 2021 Ballon d’Or “proves its qualities”, said Tuesday, November 30, to AFP, the president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët, also reacting to the judgment rendered in the sextape case.
If the Golden Ball went to Lionel Messi, two French people are positioned in the top 5 of the prestigious award. Karim Benzema fails at the foot of the podium, in fourth place, just ahead of N’Golo Kanté. Kylian Mbappé is ninth.
“I think Benzema deserved the podium. Messi is unmatched, although it was more the record that made the difference than the last twelve months which are not, I believe, the best of his career. Benzema who finds himself fourth , it is not the best seat but it proves its qualities “, declared Noël Le Graët.
Asked about the “sextape affair”, for which Karim Benzema was sentenced at first instance to a one-year suspended prison sentence and a 75,000 euros fine (a sentence he announced to appeal), the leader said moved that she “dragged on for too long”.
“It’s been six years, frankly. It comes back to a time when we were perhaps a little in difficulty, after the elimination (at the Euro). Justice must render its decision, but it is still not the deal of the century. Bringing Benzema back over and over again in this affair is very complicated, he does not deserve it “, judged Le Graët.
The latter suffered strong criticism from the victim, Mathieu Valbuena, who criticized him for never having called him. “Maybe he lost my number”, had joked the former international by nickname the boss of the FFF “Mr. Ghost”. The main interested party reacted: “I was rather upset … He is a victim, but has not been accused. I like him, as a player. He is a boy who gave a lot. Maybe it was a bad reflex to My part for not calling him, but he was never considered guilty. Defend Benzema a little bit, maybe he suffered from it and I did not understand him well. But that does not change. in no way the esteem that I have for him “, he assured.