Karim Benzema, 5ᵉ 35 years of France’s Ballon d’Or — foot11.com
35 years old, mid-thirties to forties. Karim Benzema celebrates his birthday today, the day after the Blues lost in the World Cup final. The international tricolor could have been from this campaign. Unfortunately, he had to lose it exactly one month ago after suffering a quadriceps injury in his left thigh. Probably a hard pill to swallow and one that shouldn’t hide everything: Benzema has had a great season and has a successful year in 2022.
The former Gone is one of the last players from the 1987 generation to celebrate his birthday. However, he is probably No. 1 in terms of career when compared to players of this famous generation. Considered less talented than Hatem Ben Arfa, Samir Nasri or Jérémy Menez, Karim Benzema has worked hard to be where he is today. Spanish champion, Champions League and Ballon d’Or winner: “Nueve” certainly had his best season on an individual level.
His best season in La Liga
Real Madrid had a great 2021/2022 season. The club could fear the departure of defensive leaders Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane. The arrival of David Alaba (for free), the good move was without counting Camavinga and especially the return of Carlo Ancelotti. Mr. relied on the current forces and among them Karim Benzema. The French striker has been one of the most consistent players in La Liga. He scored 27 goals in 32 games. The former Olympique Lyonnais player has never scored more goals in one season (24 in 2015/2016 and 23 in 2020/2021).
A workout that won him all kinds of individual trophies. Karim Benzema finished Pichichi (Liga’s top scorer), was named La Liga’s best player, team member of the season, May’s player or La Liga’s best player by Marca. Distinctions that reward his great domestic season. Real Madrid have won 35ᵉ titles in their history (a record in La Liga) and owe it in large part to the attacking leader.
Benzema is the king of Europe
It is not only in Spain that KB9 shines. The Madrid striker has shone on the European stage as his club. La Casa Blanca once again went all the way in the Champions League. Surprisingly, Sherif Tiraspol is the only team to beat Real in the group stage. Karim Benzema scored 5 goals in those matches. After that, “Real” eliminated every opponent that came in front of them. He won and lost one match at a time, but had the resources to qualify. Benzema failed to score in the first game (lost to Paris), but scored in every match after that.
A hat-trick in the second leg against PSG, another hat-trick in the first leg against Chelsea, a goal in the second leg. He then scored twice in the first leg of the semi-final against Manchester City, and in the second leg he scored a spectacular header in extra time. No. 9 did not score in the final against Liverpool, but the focus was elsewhere. Real Madrid have won their fourteenth Champions League and owe a lot to the twelve goals scored by the star centre-forward.
Frustration with the blues
The small shadow of this magnificent picture is this World Cup that he missed. Therefore, the player of Bron origin will have to wait for Euro 2024, the last competition, ten years after the World Cup held in Brazil. The Blues’ number 19 could take solace in the Nations League. Unfortunately, the Blues were disappointed. The French team lost to Denmark, drew with Austria and faced Croatia. Karim Benzema, the owner during these matches, scored a goal in the match against Denmark, but he could not help his team to get a better result.
These few setbacks did not overshadow the great season that the man who captained Real Madrid had. The current season started well for Benzema and his team. Karim Benzema remains indispensable at Real Madrid. Florentino Perez is looking for (and may have found) a replacement, but so far many have had their teeth broken. The Madrid number 9 is made of a special alloy that resists time.
