Since 2008, the most prized award for the best male footballer of the year (Ballon d'Or) has been going to either Ronaldo or Messi except for 2018 when Luka Modric who inspired Croatia to a World Cup final broke the monopoly and won it.
This time round, it seems to be yet another chance for a player not Messi or Ronaldo to win that award. For Messi was not even nominated and therefore stands no chance.
Despite being nominated, Ronaldo has very limited chances of winning the Ballon d'Or after his side failed to impress both in the champions league and premier league. They were ejected from the champions league at last 16 (2:1) by Atletical Madrid before finishing 6th in the league. These performances can’t steer one to winning the Ballon d'Or.
Karim Benzema at all costs will win this year’s accolade given the fact he helped his side (Real Madrid) to Champions League victory over Liverpool, netting 15 times hence finishing as top scorer.
As if that was not enough, Benzema hit another 27 La Liga goals to finish as league’s top scorer as his side won the La Liga title and to cement his need for the Ballon d'Or.
Benzema also hit a goal as Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2:0 in the Uefa Super Cup. With all these to his name, the French will undoubtedly be the Ballon d'Or winner this time round.
However, there will be some competition from Liverpool’s duo of Mohammad Salah and Sadio Mane. Salah was a joint Premier League top scorer with Son Heung-min (23) and guided his country (Egypt) to a second place finish in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) whereas Sadio Mane was very influential in country’s (Senegal) AFCON maiden title win.
But despite all these to their names, Benzema’s achievements are so much more than theirs and will on 17th October 2022 be crowned the 2022 Men’s Ballon d'Or winner for his very first time.
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