13 crazy stats that show why Karim Benzema deserves the Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema enjoyed a sensational 2021-22 season and is now the overwhelming favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.

After winning the UEFA Nations League with France, Benzema then added another Supercopa de Espana, La Liga and Champions League to his CV.

The striker played an integral role in that success and was in the best goalscoring form of his career throughout the 2021-22 season.

He looks set to win the Ballon d’Or, which now takes into account players’ performances during a season and not a calendar year. 

“The argument is over with the Ballon d’Or,” former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said on BT Sport after the Champions League final. “If Benzema doesn’t get it it’s a travesty.”

And we’ve rounded up 13 remarkable stats from the 34-year-old’s quite frankly batsh*t mental season.

– Benzema registered 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 appearances in all competitions for Madrid in 2021-22 and averaged a direct goal contribution every 66.42 minutes.

– The striker got either a goal or assist in 32 of the 46 club games he appeared in during 2021-22.

– He registered more direct goal contributions than Robert Lewandowski (57), Mohamed Salah (47), Erling Haaland (37) and Ciro Immobile (36) in 2021-22.

KARIM BENZEMA!!!

What a stunning curling strike that is from the French international! pic.twitter.com/FBfaulP9rY

— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) December 22, 2021

– Having registered 27 goals and 12 assists in the league, Benzema was directly responsible for 48.75% of Madrid’s La Liga goals in 2021-22.

– The France international finished as the top scorer in La Liga, nine ahead of second-placed Iago Aspas. He was also second on the assists chart after Ousmane Dembele.

– He scored 15 goals in the