Benzema’s long wait for Ballon d’Or

Using agency reports, Gowon Akpodonor looks at Karim Benzema’s long journey to the Ballon d’Or award.

Winners, they say, never quit. Like the proverbial cat with nine lives, Real Madrid FC and French striker, Karim Benzema, had to endure a long wait to realise his dream of becoming the Ballon d’Or winner. His victory on Monday night was the 12 time he was nominated, after failing on 11 occasions to clinch the prestigious award.

“To see this prize in front of me makes me really proud. It was a childhood dream for me and with all the work I have done, I never gave up,” Benzema stated after being crowned the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner at an elaborate gala night held at the Theatre Chatelet in Paris, France, on Monday.

The ceremony attended by past and present football star saw Benzema taking the top prize for the first time, finishing ahead of Senegal and Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane, with Manchester City playmaker, Kevin De Bruyne in third place.

(From L) Real Madrid’s French forward Karim Benzema receives the Ballon d’Or award next to his father Hafid Benzema from French former forward football player Zinedine Zidane during the 2022 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 17, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

“I am really proud of my journey here. It was not easy, it was a difficult time and also for my family as well.

“To be standing here today for the first time, I am happy for my work and will keep going,” he stated.

Benzema has 12 nominations to his name. Last year, he saw his best finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings, when he finished fourth. With his win on Monday night, Benzema became the first Frenchman to do so since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.

The Frenchman played a key role