Benzema smells like Ballon d’Or

“I dream with win the Ballon d’Or“This wish, that Benzema confessed in the exclusive interview granted to AS last week, is closer to come true. French is right now the fitter footballer on the planet and has had the best year of his life. Is between the 30 candidates to win the award but his name had not yet broken through with force among the favorites for one reason: his year he was missing a title. Now, after the achievement of Nations League with France, there are many voices that point to him as the main favorite to lift it.

The 2021 (calendar year) of Benzema It has been superb: 34 goals and 15 assists. He has led Real Madrid, whom he managed to carry until the end of the year fighting the League and Champions League, and on his return with France after reconciliation with Deschamps has become the most notably from a selection that already had a varied collection of stars (Mbappé, Griezmann, Pogba …).

The Golden Ball rewards a Whole year, but it is evidence that weight much among the voters the present moment. And the start of the course that Benzema has carried out does not admit discussion: 10 goals (one per game) and seven assists with Madrid. To that must be added the exhibition at the Nations League, where he rescued France with two goals (one in the semi-final to Belgium and another in the final to Spain) at critical moments where they were behind on the scoreboard.

its hopeful candidacy at Madrid, but also in France. The creators of the award carry since 1998, when Zidane won it, without seeing how a Frenchman lifts it. Griezmann appeared at the table of the best in 2018, when France won the World Cup (he was third, as in 2016), but never a Frenchman had been so close to achieving it as this year Benzema.

Real Madrid Shield / Flag

Rivals

Between the other favorites, four stand out: Lewandowski, Messi, Cristiano and Jorginho. The Polish counts in his favor with his huge year (50 goals between Bayern and Poland) and with being the moral winner of 2020, the year in which France Football decided to leave it vacant due to the pandemic. In those pools, as always, there are Messi and Cristiano: the Argentine has 42 goals, 17 assists and a America Cup with Argentina, in which he was the best (four goals and five assists) although he did not shine in the final. He comes from scoring in the break with his team and scoring a great goal in the Champions League against City. The Portuguese it was Golden Boot of the Eurocup, reached the historical record national team scorer and he was top scorer of the Series A (29). The other great candidate is Jorginho, with less glamor at the individual level (four goals and two assists) but with the two titles most important groups: Champions with Chelsea and Eurocopa with Italy.

With much fewer options than the previous ones, there are other players who have also had a great year: Haaland, Kanté, Neymar, De Bruyne and Luis Suárez are some of them.

Finally, the three Spaniards nominees (Pedri, Azpilicueta and Gerard) do not appear among the favorites although the canary, for whom it is a great success to be among the top 30 at 18 years old, You have many options to win the Kopa Trophy (for those under 21 years old).