Football in a class: Karim Benzema (35, left) and Lionel Messi (35, from right) duel in many thrilling games like here in the match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. (archive image) © Ballesteros/dpa
Normally, football star Karim Benzema (35) from Real Madrid doesn’t need to follow suit, but on the occasion of this year’s FIFA world footballer election, the Frenchman uses unusually sharp tones against Lionel Messi.
As the “sports picture” reported, the Argentinian superstar not only had well-wishers on his side after his re-election as world footballer. The exceptional footballer under contract with PSG had prevailed in the election against his teammate Kylian Mbappé (24) and also against Karim Benzema.
The latter showed himself to be a bad “loser” after the award and openly railed against Messi.
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On Instagram, he vented his disappointment at missing out on the triumph by sharing a post from another user detailing his accomplishments over the past year. A photo of himself followed, noting that he made it on his own.
Benzema’s record in 2022 is more than impressive: 63 goals, 23 assists, winning the Champions League, Spanish champions and Super Cup winners, to name just a few of his achievements. However, it was not enough for first place in the FIFA elections.
This is how he would have liked to see himself again: Karim Benzema (35) from Spanish record champions Real Madrid had to settle for third place this time. © Francois Mori/dpa
Incidentally, Benzema himself, like his Real teammate Antonio Rüdiger (29), was not present at the ceremony in Paris. Official reason: The election would have disrupted the preparation for the cup game against FC Barcelona.
But there was also a protest from the Real players. The “Royal” are said to have been angry that their Brazilian team-mate Vinícius Júnior (22) had not even been nominated for the World XI shortlist.
In view of the Frenchman’s outstanding success, an election as world footballer would have been quite realistic. Before the World Cup, Benzema had already been awarded the Ballon d’Or.
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The fact that Messi was on the podium again in the end probably had mainly to do with his world title in Qatar. But is this title enough to choose the world footballer? This question was also hotly debated online.
The Argentinian had “only” the championship with Paris Saint-Germain as successes outside of the World Cup. At FIFA, World Cups seem to count twice…
