Karim Benzema: the story of a football player from prison to pedestal

One of the most important events in world football life was eagerly awaited. The era of Messi and Ronaldo is coming to an end. Back in August, a list of thirty candidates was announced. And the Argentine striker PSG was not listed in it. The Portuguese striker of Manchester United was included in the extended squad, but few believed in Ronaldo’s victory either. Cristiano’s season was too uneven and too many scandals related to his unwillingness to play for Manchester were discussed in the media. And although the Golden Ball is still awarded based on the results of the calendar year, and not the season – such changes are already being discussed for a more fair and transparent selection of the best football player – they could have had a certain impact on the voting results. However, Messi last season was also not the best.

The absence of Messi and Ronaldo among the favorites was still surprising. Because since 2008, only these two players have been arguing among themselves who will eventually receive the Golden Ball. During this time, the Argentine won the prestigious trophy seven times, the Portuguese put five Golden Balls on the shelf. Only in 2018, Luka Modric wedged into the dispute between the two Atlanteans, but this exception to the rule, as they say, only confirmed the rule itself: “there is no one better than Messi and Ronaldo in modern football.” Especially a lot of criticism was caused by the last award in 2021, when many experts and fans considered that Robert Lewandowski was the most worthy, about which MK wrote in those days. But for some reason Messi was declared the winner. After that, furious football fans wrote on social networks that it was possible to immediately give the “ball” to the Argentine, without arranging a circus with voting.

The organizers drew conclusions, and this time everything was quite fair.

According to a long-established tradition, the announcement of the voting results was interspersed with the presentation of other awards. But even before the announcement of the best young footballer, it became clear that Ronaldo would not see the “ball” this time – he was only in 20th position.

As they approached the final four, Barcelona midfielder Gavi won the award as the best young player of the year, Robert Lewandowski, who scored the most goals in official matches, and Real Madrid’s Thibault Courtois, who was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world. Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas took home the Women’s Ballon d’Or, while Manchester City won the FIFA Club of the Year last season.

The great French footballer and coach Zinedine Zidane, who received his “ball” in 1998, took the stage to announce the best player. Since then, French football players have not received “balls”. And at that moment it became clear who would be the best this time. In the envelope, Zidane had a piece of paper with the name of Real Madrid captain and French striker Karim Benzema.

Rightfully the best

Benzema’s choice was expected enough. Without a doubt, he deserved the Golden Ball. With Real Madrid, where Benzema has been since 2009, he has won the last La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League. Together with the French national team, Karim won the UEFA Nations League-20/21. On his account in 2021, 47 goals in all matches played for the club and the national team.

But even this is not the most important thing. Perhaps someone will disagree with the author of this article, but Benzema plays real, “male” football. He does not remove his feet, he always goes to the end, and many of his goals are scored in a close fight. That’s how he’s been since his first season in 2004 at Olympique de Lyon, and that’s how he’s remained to this day at Real Madrid.

But all this might not be.

In November 2015, Benzema was detained by the French police as part of a blackmail case involving another French footballer, Mathieu Valbuena. Well known to Russian fans for his performance for Dynamo Moscow. The case was quite loud.

On December 10, 2015, it became known that Karim had been suspended from the national team. French Football Federation President Noel Le Greux even said at the time that Benzema would never again be called up to the national team. Le Greux confirmed this decision in the summer of 2018, when it became known that the striker was not included in the squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, held in Russia.

The situation has changed in 2021. On May 18, the head coach of the French, Didier Deschamps, six years later called the striker to the national team.

“We cannot go back in time and change something. The most important thing is today and tomorrow. Important steps were taken, we met with Karim, we talked for a long time, and after the meeting I thought for a long time before I came to this decision. I will not tell what we talked about, it concerns only us. We both needed it. I have already faced difficult situations and always ignored personal interests. The French team does not belong to me, ”Deschamps explained his decision then.

Benzema himself, by the way, always believed that he would return to the national team, and worked hard for this. “I am proud to be back with the French national team and to be trusted. Thanks to my family, friends, club and all those who have always supported me and gave me strength every day,” Karim told reporters after receiving a call from Deschamps.

Now the best football player in the world is only 34 years old. If Benzema has minutes of injury, then by football standards there are still a few years to complete the collection of personal and team awards. But the main thing is that he has the inner strength for this. Not without reason, at the Ballon d’Or ceremony at the Châtelet Theater in Paris, Karim arrived in the image of his favorite rapper Shakur Tupac, whose ardent admirer he is.

France Football Top 10 Players

1. Karim Benzema, Real Madrid

2. Sadio Mane, Bayern

3. Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

4. Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona

5. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

6. Kylian Mbappé, PSG

7. Thibault Courtois, Real Madrid

8. Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid

9. Luka Modric, Real Madrid

10. Erling Haaland, Manchester City