In a documentary shown on L’Équipe, Lionel Messi (36), one of the favorites to win the Ballon d’Or this year, said that Karim Benzema (35), who won it last year, earned it. 

It was Benzema’s win in 2022 after he led Real Madrid to the Champions League title. The player from the Olympique Lyonnais school scored 44 goals in the 2021/22 season, which was more than his previous best. A lot of those goals were scored in the group stages of the Champions League. He was the first Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or since Zinédine Zidane in 1998. He was the fifth Frenchman to win the award. 

Even though Benzema is named again, along with Randal Kolo Muani and Kylian Mbappé, he is not seen as one of the favorites to win the trophy. The forward used to play for OL. He now plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia after leaving Real Madrid. 

Messi said that Benzema deserved to win the title before next Monday’s event. “Benzema really deserved it for his great season and his whole career.” He plays the piano very well. He said, “This reward is important for him and for football.” The forward used to play for Paris Saint-Germain and now plays club football for Inter Miami.