Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema of France expressed his joy at receiving the Ballon d’Or as the best player in the world for the 2021-2022 season, presented by France Football magazine.
Benzema said after receiving the award today, Monday: “It is a great honor for me to receive this award, I remember hard work and perseverance from childhood.”
Benzema added, speaking of his idol, “The Ballon d’Or was always on my mind, then inspiration and desire came as I had two idols, (French compatriot) Zinedine Zidane and (former Brazilian striker) Ronaldo.”
And the 34-year-old added: “I work and don’t give up again and again, the main thing is that this dream is in your head, although I have gone through difficult circumstances and have not been with the French national team for some time. for a while, but I managed to overcome it.”
And he continued: “My family has been through difficult times with me, this is the first time I have received this award, I am satisfied with the work done, I will certainly continue, I thank all my colleagues at Real Madrid, the French national team. the national team, my coach and the president of a great club, Florentino Perez, who gave me a great opportunity.”
“The Ballon d’Or is an individual award, but for me it’s a collective award.”
Benzema became the first French player to win the Ballon d’Or since Zidane in 1998.
Benzema also became the fifth Frenchman to accomplish this feat after Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991) and Zidane (1998).
Source: agencies