Given that the Ballon d’Or is now based on the performance of a season, and no longer on a calendar year, the first predictions are already given. Even if he did not play the 2022 World Cup, Karim Benzema is one of the favorites, unlike Kylian Mbappé.
What if Karim Benzema retains his title? In a press conference last week, his coach at Real Madrid Carlo Ancelotti considered the possibility of seeing him win a second consecutive Ballon d’Or. It is true that the Madrid striker, author of two hat-tricks in four days against Valladolid (6-0) and Barcelona (0-4) in the Copa del Rey, impresses again after a disappointing first half of the season and his absence from the Mondial 2022. The French can believe it, confirms journalist Martin Mosnier, who still designates two serious competitors.
KB9 towards the double?
« Benzema is on a streak that has completely reshuffled the cardscommented the Eurosport specialist. Messi’s main opponent was Mbappé but both players are entangled in a cataclysmic sporting situation. They were taken out of the Champions League very quickly and without shining in the round of 16. In addition we are at the end of the season where Messi is less concerned, we are almost on six blank months which damage the heritage of the World Cup. Benzema is on the opposite trend so the calendar is rather favorable to him. »
Haaland ????
30 PL goals. 44 in all comps ????#UCL pic.twitter.com/OlMlvNksnj
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 9, 2023
« Benzema will have to win the Champions League and be excellent at every turncontinued the journalist. But I would add one last obstacle called Erling Haaland. He has already scored 44 goals this season and we know that the Ballon d’Or is really about statistics. I would take Mbappe out of the Ballon d’Or race. Everything will depend on the course of Manchester City and Real Madrid, and the individual performances of Haaland and Benzema. “A priori, only an incredible end to the season of a competitor can prevent the Argentine from winning his eighth Ballon d’Or, but no one yet knows which club will play the Pulga if he has to come and seek a new trophy in Paris. next winter.
