Ballon d'Or winner 'leaked' just hours before official announcement as big reveal looms large

This year's Ballon d'Or winner has been 'leaked as Karim Benzema bags the prize, according to reports in Spain.

The 34-year-old Frenchman was part of the Real Madrid squad that truimph domestically and in European competition. And the frontman was in the form of his life as he lifted both the La Liga and Champions League trophy last term. And to top things off Benzema was the top goal scorer in both competition, netting 27 times in Spain and 15 times during his UCL campaign. The impressive stats no doubt make the striker a worthy winner, if the rumours are true.

The Real star's achievement marks just the third time the Ballon d'Or has been won by either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi since Kaka took home the prestigious award back in 2007 and Luka Modric triumphed in 2018. Celtic witnessed Benzema's class first hand last month as Carlo Ancelotti's men visited Glasgow's east end. And it is a trip to Madrid in a few weeks for Ange Postecoglou 's side where they will come up against the apparent Ballon d'Or winner once more.

Spanish media outlet Marca report Benzema has beaten off tough competition from Sadio Mane, Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe to take this year's crown.

It may be a particualrly tough one to take for Barcelona's Lewandowski after the cancellation of the 2020 awards say him miss out despite being primed to take home the trophy.

Last year's gong was won by Messi, after the Argentine's Copa America triumph.

The striker becomes the eighth Real Madrid player in history to win the award. He follows in the footsteps of Cristiano, Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Alfredi Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa and current team-mate Modric.

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