King Karim Benzema: The Ballon d'Or 2022

On the 17th of October 2022, the footballing world saw Karim Benzema be crowned as the Ballon d'Or winner for his majestic 2021/2022 season. His heroics throughout the season led his win to be the second biggest victory in the award's history as he earned 365 votes more than the runner-up: Sadio Mane. Benzema is the first French footballer to collect the award since former Real Madrid coach and his inspiration- Zinedine Zidane and is the oldest winner since Stanley Matthews won the award in 1956. 

During the 2021/22 season, he led Real Madrid to the Supercopa de España, La Liga, the Champions League titles, and led France to the 2021 Nations League title. The 34-year-old scored 44 times and assisted 15 times in a span of 46 games throughout the season. He also collected the Pichichi Trophy for the first time in his career by being the top scorer in the Spanish League (27 goals in 32 games) and was also the top scorer in the Champions League by scoring 15 times.

Benzema joined Real Madrid in 2009 and has had to wait for his opportunities as he had the job of being the strike partner of Cristiano Ronaldo whom many considered to overshadow the French striker. From the start, Karim had many people who doubted and criticized his style of play, had a language barrier with most of his teammates and coaches, and had to live up to expectations many placed on him. In the 13 years of his Real Madrid career, he went from being a juvenile, misfit player who struggled in his early days to becoming the captain of the team and a legend whom the new generation looks up to. Winning the Ballon d'Or was the culmination of Benzema's dream as he said in an interview, "So, it was a goal since I was little, or maybe more of a dream. Last year, when I finished fourth, I was in the running, but I hadn’t won the big collective trophies. This year, I won everything.”

Karim Benzema's rise to being the best footballer in the world has been an absolute spectacle and is an inspiration for everyone as it gives the most important lesson in life- Never Give Up!