From outcast or bad to in love
A scandal that shocked not only the French public in 2015. At the time, according to the court, Benzema was involved in the blackmail of a former teammate of the national team, Matthieu Valbuena. A Lyon native of Algerian descent allegedly tried to get him to pay the blackmailers who threatened to post an intimate video of him. But Valbuena instead reported the case to the police.
Both players lost their position in the national team, Benzema was initially banned from approaching his partner and was threatened with up to five years in prison. In November, the court awarded him a one-year suspended prison sentence and he also had to pay a fine of 75,000 euros (1.9 million crowns).
The affair did not only mean a temporary dismissal from the national team, due to lackluster performances, Benzema also fell out of favor with Real Madrid fans. During the spring of 2018, he was often booed and booed. The bad thing is that the striker still plays, even though he hasn’t scored many goals.
Everything broke down in the Champions League semi-finals when he helped eliminate Bayern Munich with two goals in a 2: 2. It alternated with standing ovations. In recent years, Benzema has repaid the coach’s trust very well, much has already been written about his performances last season, for which he received the Ballon d’Or.
“I came here a long way, but I also went through a difficult period in my career where I couldn’t represent. It wasn’t easy for me and my family, but I always believed in coming back,” he stressed after accepting the trophy.
Second oldest winner
Compared to last year, Benzema has improved from fourth place to first place. At the age of 34 years and 302 days, he became the second-oldest winner of the prestigious poll, after 41-year-old Englishman Stanley Matthews, who won the very first edition in 1956.
With Benzema leaving the aforementioned scandal behind, he is playing the best football of his career. “Age is just a number to me,” he added smiling at the gala in Paris. And soon he can indulge in another treat. The World Cup final will be played on Sunday, where France defends the title, 18 December. That is, the day before his 35th birthday, birthdays.
The best players in the world seem to be particularly attracted to the Spanish top flight. The latest non-La Liga winner was five-time gold statuette holder Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 while still playing for Manchester United.
It was 2008 that the era of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s domination began. The only exception was 2018, when Luka Modrič was voted the best footballer in the world.
The last time the Ballon d’Or was not won by a Spanish footballer was in 2008 and Cristiano Ronaldo.
– Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) October 17, 2022
Some might argue that Messi became a winner in 2021 as a player for France’s Paris Saint-Germain. Yes, but the Argentine moved to Paris from Barcelona only in the summer and the poll, which still took into account the calendar year, was announced in November. Benzema is the first winner for whom last season was a key period.
Real Madrid celebrated once again. Thibaut Courtois won the Lev Jašin trophy as best goalkeeper. “It’s not bad to have the best player and goalkeeper in the world on the team. Deservedly! Congratulations,” Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos wrote on Instagram.
He added the stab that it’s not a bad calling card for the third best team in the world, who have dominated both the Champions League and national competition. The award was won by the English giant Manchester City, who dominated the Premier League and lost to Real in the Champions League semi-finals. And who then scored the decisive shot in extra time in the second match? Yes, it was Karim Benzema.
