The 34-year-old, who returned to the national squad after a nearly six-year absence due to a blackmail case, played a key role in Real’s Champions League and La Liga championships.
Although their relationship for his nation was not flawless, their front line has helped the world champions become one of the most fearsome in the league.
The award for the greatest player in the world that was presented to Benzema on Monday was simply compensation for the unselfish striker, who has a killing instinct in front of goal and loves to make team mates shine.
Benzema told Reuters that the win was a team effort. “It’s an individual trophy, but you can’t score without your team mates. Sometimes you could get a screamer, but, for me, football is a collective sport, and I will always be a team player.
After four years with Lyon’s first squad, Benzema, who began his professional career with Olympique Lyonnais after being nurtured at their development program, joined Real in 2009.
I was fortunate to join Real, the finest club in the world, and even if it was difficult at first, I remained committed, he remarked.
“I’ve focused on developing my mental toughness, and I’ve been brave and determined.”
At Paris’s Theatre du Chatelet, Benzema received the Ballon d’Or trophy from the legendary Zinedine Zidane, the last French player to get the honor in 1998.
He was my coach (at Real from 2016–18 and 2019–21), which means a lot to me. He is also the greatest French player in history, which makes it even more special, added Benzema.
After missing out on the 2018 World Cup, which France won in Russia, the striker will now be vying for his first major trophy with France in Qatar.
Prior to the finals beginning on Nov. 20, he remarked, “My objective is to continue to love playing football, to score and help my team mates score. The World Cup is the next challenge.”
Benzema argued that his Ballon d’Or victory did not prove anything, despite his troubled relationship with Didier Deschamps and France.
He responded, “Revenge doesn’t help you develop. I have no regrets; what happened is what occurred; I don’t want to linger on my failures since they just help me become more mentally strong. What counts is what is occurring now.