Karim Benzema earns the Ballon d’Or

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the essentials in brief

• If Lionel Messi has his way, Karim Benzema must receive the Ballon d’Or.
• Meanwhile, the PSG superstar is not interested in Lewandowski’s opinion.

“To be honest, I don’t share his opinion. He can say whatever he wants. I don’t care,” Messi said in an interview with Argentine TV channel TyC Sports.

Messi had not voted for Lewandowski in the FIFA World Player 2021 election in January, not considering the 33-year-old, who plans to leave Bayern Munich in the summer. Nevertheless, the Pole won for the second time in a row and then reacted cautiously to the voting behavior of the Paris Saint-Germain attacker.

In November 2021, despite an outstanding season, Lewandowski finished second behind Lionel Messi at the Ballon d’Or. At the time, the Argentine had declared that he would treat Lewandowski if he received the Golden Ball from the French magazine “France Football”, which was not awarded in 2020.

Lionel Messi praises Karim Benzema

“My words came from the heart at that moment because I really felt that way. I said he deserved the Ballon d’Or before because the year before I thought he was the best. But the year I won he wasn’t the best. But he should see it as he wants, »said the 34-year-old, who won the Golden Ball seven times and the world association FIFA’s election as world footballer six times.

Meanwhile, in this year’s election, Lionel Messi has no way of avoiding Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. The French international was instrumental in winning the Champions League and the Spanish championship.

“I think this year there is no doubt. Benzema had a spectacular year,” said Messi, who was eliminated with PSG in the round of 16 against the royals – thanks to Benzema’s three goals in the second leg.

Real was not the best team in the Champions League. “Nevertheless, they beat everyone. But the best doesn’t always win, »said the PSG superstar.

Should Karim Benzema receive the Ballon d’Or?