Peerless Karim Benzema has set benchmark for Real Madrid's next generation of stars

Karim Benzema saw his number come up. He heard the crescendo of applause as he made his way to the touchline. His work had been done and, after all, he had an important appointment the following day.

His goal, early in the season’s first clasico that put Real Madrid in the ascendency over Barcelona on Sunday, was a fitting way to head off to Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.

His manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was already preparing the congratulations for Benzema being named, in Paris, as the world’s best footballer for the 2021/22 season. “His Ballon d’Or is in a little way ours, too,” said Ancelotti, noting how the Bernabeu crowd had responded to him deliberately bringing Benzema off late in the clasico so they could pay homage to their captain.

After the 3-1 win, Benzema then led Vinicius and Luka Modric, a previous Ballon d’Or, back onto the pitch to cheer the madridistas. “It felt like a Champions League day,” remarked Ancelotti of the exuberant atmosphere.

The victory returned Madrid to the top of la Liga, where they were champions with 13 points clearance over Barca last May. The honouring of Benzema, 34, is a reminder that Ancelotti’s Los Blancos were also thrilling Champions League winners.

There, the French striker scored two hat-tricks among his 10 goals in a dazzling trio of comebacks in the knockout rounds, with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City eliminated on the way to the 1-0 win over Liverpool in the final.

Those see-saw ties, quite apart from Benzema’s 44 goals in 46 matches across his golden season, are partly why the Ballon d’Or stays a year longer in La Liga’s orbit.

Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema receives the Ballon d'Or award during the Ballon d'Or ceremony at Theatre Du Chatelet