Real Madrid attacker Karim Benzema (34) winner of the Golden Ball election | Football

The French striker of Real Madrid is the successor of Lionel Messi, who won the Golden Ball last year. Benzema was involved in 59 Real Madrid goals last season. He scored 44 times and provided 15 assists. Benzema won the Champions League and the league title with Real Madrid.

Reaction Benzema

“This award makes me really proud, because of all the work I’ve done since I was young,” were the first words of Benzema on the podium in Paris. “I never gave up. I have done this for my children, among others. I got the motivation from the role models in my life: Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo.”

To continue: “I’ve always dreamed of this and then you feel that basically anything is possible,” says Benzema. I had a difficult period when I was not selected in the French national team. I have always worked hard, never gave up and kept enjoying the game in the meantime. I am proud of the journey I have taken. There were difficult moments, but I have always felt the support of my family.”

The Frenchman has always believed in it. “Winning this trophy was always in the back of my mind, but what really changed after I turned 30 is the ambition,” said Benzema after receiving the Golden Ball. “When I was 21 or 22 years old, I didn’t have the same ambition as I have today. The ambition only entered my head after that time. Ambition means working harder and being a leader for my team. I am very happy to play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world. And I’m still ambitious. I would like to go to the World Cup with France.”

extortion scandal

In October of last year, he also won the Nations League with the French national team. In previous years, Benzema was not welcome in the French squad because of his involvement in an extortion scandal involving his teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

“I’ve had difficult moments when I didn’t play for the national team and was alone at Real’s Valdebebas training center because everyone else was playing for their national team,” said the striker. “I’m very proud of all the work I’ve put into it.”

Benzema is the fourth French winner of the Golden Ball after Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991) and Zidane (1998).

Van Dijk sixteenth

Benzema defeated Sadio Mané (2nd) and Kevin De Bruyne (3rd) in the election. Virgil van Dijk was the only Dutchman nominated. The captain of the Dutch national team and defender of Liverpool finished sixteenth. Three years ago, he finished second behind Messi.

Virgil Van Dijk

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The top ten:

1. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

2. Sadio Mané (Liverpool, now Bayern Munich)

3. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

4. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, now FC Barcelona)

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

6. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

7. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

8. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

9. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

10. Erling Haaland (Dortmund, now Manchester City)

Sébastien Haller, who was successful for Ajax last season, finished thirteenth. Cristiano Ronaldo got stuck in 20th place. Messi was not nominated.

Last year Robert Lewandowski was the big favorite, but the prize went to Messi again. France Football After that election a number of things changed. The election was no longer about a calendar year but about a season.

The contenders were no longer only suggested by journalists from France Football. The jury is still made up of journalists, one per country. But only journalists from countries that are in the top 100 of the world rankings are allowed to vote. Van Dijk was the only Dutchman nominated.

Gavi beats Gravenberch

The first prize of the evening at the Golden Ball gala in Paris went to Gavi. The 18-year-old FC Barcelona midfielder won the Kopa Trophy, following in the footsteps of his teammate Pedri (19), who was awarded the prize together with Ronaldo. Ryan Gravenberch eventually finished sixth in this election.

Putellas again winner in women

Putellas (28) of FC Barcelona, ​​who suffered a serious knee injury a day before the European Championship in England, is the winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin, just like last year.

She begins her speech with the words ‘Madre mia’ and shedding a tear. After her great season with FC Barcelona, ​​she also hoped to shine at the European Championship in England last summer, but a day before the start of the tournament she suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury during training with Spain. As a result, she will probably not play again this season.

Thibaut Courtois named best goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois was voted Europe’s best goalkeeper at the Golden Ball ceremony in Paris on Monday. The Belgian number one of Real Madrid won the so-called Yashin Trophy. In the election of the Golden Ball itself he finished seventh, of course he was also the best goalkeeper there.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper was the star of the Champions League final last season. The number 1 of the Red Devils kept a clean sheet against Liverpool with an unlikely series of saves, allowing the Royal a goal from Vinicius was enough to bring the cup with the big ears to the Spanish capital for the fourteenth time. Courtois also crowned himself champion with Real. Last season, he recorded 22 clean sheets in 52 games.

Last year Courtois had to leave the Yashin trophy to Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian did not make the shortlist this time. Courtois is the first Belgian on the honors list of the prize awarded since 2019.

Lewandowksi best striker, City club of the year

Lewandowski, who left Bayern Munich last summer for FC Barcelona, ​​was the best striker of the previous season according to the jury. Not Real Madrid but Manchester City were awarded as the best club of the year.

Mane most generous

The Senegalese Sadio Mané (Bayern Munich) received the Socrates Award, a new prize for players and players who are committed to social and charitable projects. Mané was rewarded for his investment in developing his native village of Bambali, in southern Senegal, where he has promoted equal access to football for boys and girls. He also financed a hospital there.