Real Madrid player Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d’Or trophy. Benzema’s achievement is closely related to the achievements in the 2021/22 season, both from an individual perspective and at club level at Real Madrid.
From an individual level, last season Benzema proved himself to be one of the best and sharpest strikers today. The 34-year-old has scored 44 goals, of which 27 goals and 12 assists were made in the Spanish La Liga and 15 goals in the European Champions League.
At club level, Benzema became one of the important actors in Madrid’s success in winning the 2021/22 European Champions League as well as the 14th trophy for Madrid. On several occasions, Benzema has been a person who has succeeded in helping Madrid to reverse the situation in Madrid’s favor in the Champions League when they met strong teams such as Paris Saint Germain (PSG), Chelsea and Manchester City.
Then, Benzema also helped Madrid win the Spanish La Liga trophy for the 2021/22 season. His contribution is not only in terms of goals, but opens opportunities for his teammates.
Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, two young Brazilian players look lucky and have improved at the same time last season. The role of Benzema who has a higher level of experience is to be a mentor and help these young strikers.
Benzema, who has 13 seasons in the Los Blancos uniform, has become one of the most loyal players in Madrid’s history. You could say the player who was bought from Lyon in 2009 has been recorded as an important Madrid legend. Even at the age of 34 years, Benzema’s role on the front lines is still difficult to replace.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2018, Benzema has managed to fill the post left by the Portuguese superstar. As a result, dependence on Ronaldo is not so felt because Benzema is able to be the answer and solution to Ronaldo’s departure.
Likewise, when Sergio Ramos, who was the captain of the team, left for PSG. Benzema was entrusted as the team captain, thus making the role of the French national team player even more significant in the Madrid squad.
The presence of Manager Carlo Anceloti last season fulfilled Benzema’s career. Benzema is seen as an important mainstay up front, and fits well with Ancelotti’s pragmatic style of play which emphasizes defensive play with a quick and direct counter-attack.
However, Benzema’s career is not without black spots. Due to the sex video scandal involving his teammate in the French national team, Mathieu Valbuena, Benzema faced a difficult situation in his career as a footballer.
The case that happened to Benzema and Valbuena came to the fore in 2015. Benzema is suspected of collaborating with the person who blackmailed Valbuena. As reported by the Guardian.com (24/10/21), Benzema’s lawyer stated that his client’s role was only to ask Valbuena to accept the blackmailer’s demands and have no connection with the blackmailer.
Instead of confirming the blackmailer’s demands, Valbuena reported the extortion to the police and Benzema was judged to be involved in the case. The results of the trial in 2021 and then set a year in prison and a fine of 75 thousand euros for Benzema.
The case that shook the world of French sports also affected Benzema’s career in the French national team. From 2015 to 2021, Benzema and Valbune were not called up to the French national team. As a result, Benzema lost momentum when France won the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The situation slowly eased in the last year. France coach Didier Deschamps dared to call Benzema back to the national team. Benzema also became one of the players who managed to present the UEFA Nations trophy for France and also played in the 2000 European Cup.
With this, Benzema’s dark period that influenced his career in the national team is over thanks to his consistent performance with Madrid. However, his contribution to Madrid cannot be underestimated and can greatly help the French national team.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be a moment for Benzema to prove his quality as a respected striker and confirm his achievement as the Ballon d’Or player of the year in 2022.
Furthermore, Benzema’s success cannot be separated from his professionalism as an athlete. In the midst of the scandalous situation that befell him, Benzema seems to remain focused on his career. Being suspended from the French national team is not the final word for the number 9 player in Madrid.
In addition to the gloomy period, in Madrid Benzema also faced no less hot competition. Benzema arrived in Madrid while Florentino Perez was busy building his Galaticos project.
The presence of Cristiano Ronaldo is a challenge in itself. Despite being part of the BBC trio (Bale, Benzema and Cristiano), Ronaldo still stole the show. It’s not that Benzema is seen as Ronaldo’s successor, but the tendency towards Bale.The situation even happened unexpectedly. Gareth Bale appeared inconsistent until he was allowed to go to LAPC, the MLS league. In contrast, Benzema improved.
For 9 seasons, Benzema seemed to be in the shadow of Ronaldo’s glory. 4 times (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) Benzema watched his former team-mate lift the Ballon d’Or trophy in Madrid. Not to mention when Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or trophy in 2018.
Behind the success of his teammates, Benzema is not discouraged. As he grew older, Benzema appeared more and more brilliant. His brilliance shines even more after Ronaldo’s departure. Benzema’s brilliance is also shown in how he builds relationships with his teammates. The player who is also Europe’s best player is a partner who sets the best example in the team.
Benzema is willing to give a place for Rodrygo to take on the task of taking the penalty. In fact, not infrequently, Benzema tries to help Eden Hazard to be able to rediscover his best performance.
Benzema’s success in becoming the best player in the Ballon d’Or version is the fruit of his hard work and determination during his time at Los Blancos. Furthermore, Benzema also gave a message that age is not an obstacle to being the best. Yes, Benzema is categorized as one of the oldest players to win the Ballon d’Or trophy, even since the time of Stanley Matthew in 1956.
Age is not the final determinant. Professional attitude remains the basic foundation that puts Benzema in the best condition and performance to date.
ASL
