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Schweinsteiger Benzema (Image source: Twitter)
Real Madrid defeated PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool. These four were also the very best football clubs in the final four matches of the Champions League 2022. Their win, but more so the manner of it, made last season’s Champions League one of the most exciting in recent times.
Much of Real Madrid’s win however rested on Karim Benzema’s shoulders as the number nine grew out of Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow to become the best striker in the world. The French-born striker scored 15 goals in the competition to clinch the win for the Spanish club.
It is to be noted that Real Madrid weren’t rated highly to reach the final. However, not only reached the end but went all the way to win it, with Benzema coming in as the scorer in all of the last three matches.
On the back of his performance in last season’s Champions League, it is argued that the Real Madrid striker would win the Ballon d’Or in 2022. Bastian Schweinsteiger, the former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder weighed in on the discussion and claimed Benzema to be an easy choice for the prestigious award.
In a Twitter post, the legendary footballer wrote, “Currently the best centre forward of the world- Benzema.
He continued, “Not only the goals he scores are impressive. For me, it’s exceptional how intelligent he is moving off the ball. No doubt he will win Ballon d’Or 222!”
Currently the best center forward of the world - @Benzema.
Not only the goals he scores are impressive. For me, it’s exceptional how intelligent he is moving off the ball. No doubt he will win the Ballon d‘Or 2022! 👏🏼#SuperCup— Bastian Schweinsteiger (@BSchweinsteiger) August 10, 2022
Ballon d’Or is probably the most regarded individual award in football and is presented by the French news magazine 'France Football' since 1956. The legendary duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi hogged the prestigious award from 2008 to 2017 with no other player even coming close to winning it in those 10 years. Luka Modric broke the pattern in 2019 to win it for the first time in 11 years.
Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 matches last season of which 15 were in the Champions League. He scored five goals against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City, and took Real Madrid into the final. It is all but certain that Benzema will win this year’s Ballon d’Or.