After receiving the 2022 Ballon d’Or from Zinedine Zidane, the French striker of Real Madrid Karim Benzema thanked his teammates, his family, former Lyon club and Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez:
“Seeing this audience supporting me is a source of pride. I remember the time when I was little, all the work done that I never left. It was a childhood dream, like all children. I grew up with that in mind, and then I got motivated because I had two idols in my life: Zizou and Ronaldo, and they are here [оба присутствовали на вручении наград в Париже – прим.] It’s a lot of work, you never give up, it’s even more practical, but above all, always keep in mind this dream that everything is possible.
Because there have been times when it has been much more difficult for me. Today we are not only looking at the positive side, but there have also been periods when, for example, I was not in the national team, when I did not give up, when I was with the manager. We worked hard in training and he was constantly telling me not to lose the joy of playing football and that one day I could win this trophy. I am really proud of my journey.
This is my first time here, so I’m really happy and satisfied with my work. I will continue in the same spirit. I would like to thank all my teammates, Real Madrid and the French national team. Thanks to them, my coach, my wonderful president [Флорентино Пересу] . The day he gave me the chance to sign for Real Madrid, he came to my house, it shows what kind of person he is. He has always been honest with me. He has always inspired confidence in me, so today I have a lot of respect for him.
I don’t forget Mr. Jean-Michel Aulas either [президента «Лиона»], the entire Lyon academy, because without them I would not have been able to fulfill my dream of playing in Madrid. Also I don’t forget my whole family because we need a family to be united. This Golden Ball is individual, but also collective. That’s why for me it is the people’s Golden Ball “.
💬 Karim Benzema: “It’s an honor, it was a childhood dream to become the Golden Ball”#Golden Ball pic.twitter.com/17ykH6YPzd
– Golden Ball #ballondor (@francefootball) October 17, 2022
