Karim Benzema: Manuel Pellegrini hails Ballon d'Or winner and Real Madrid forward as the 'complete player'

Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini believes that Karim Benzema deserved his 2022 Ballon d’Or award for being «a complete player». Benzema took home the trophy earlier this week as he won the individual award for the first time in his career, aged 34.

Ad The French forward has been in exceptional form for at least the past two years and has been increasingly influential for Real Madrid. Last season he won the Champions League and La Liga, making decisive contributions along the way as he notched 44 goals in 46 club appearances, his best-ever haul.

Ballon d'OrNeymar says Vinicius should have been 'top three' in Ballon d'OrAN HOUR AGO While his former Real Madrid colleague Cristiano Ronaldo and erstwhile Barcelona opponent Lionel Messi appear to have started their declines, Benzema continues to improve, and Pellegrini believes it was right to award him the Ballon d'Or. He told Marca: “It is undeniable that Karim Benzema deserves the award.

He is a complete player, not only a scorer, but he is a creator as well.” Pellegrini was manager of Real Madrid in 2009/10, the season that Benzema first arrived at the club, and while the Chilean managed only a short stop in the Spanish capital before moving elsewhere, including a Premier League-winning stint at Manchester City a few years later, he acknowledged how impressive Benzema’s longevity has been. “I was lucky to arrive at Real Madrid in the same year as he did.

Staying at Real Madrid for 10 years as a key player is not easy,” he continued. Wolves look like a team in need of a huge — The Warm-Up Barcelona, Juventus and Roma battle for Man Utd defender Dalot — Paper Round Klopp denies Manchester City comments were xenophobic — 'I would hate myself' Benzema has scored 328 goals