Benzema Speaks Out on the Ballon d’Or, Shocking Everyone with His Prediction
The controversy surrounding the last Ballon d’Or is still fresh, but many are already looking ahead to the 2025 edition. Right now, Kylian Mbappé appears to be the frontrunner, especially after his stunning hat-trick against Manchester City at the Bernabéu.
However, in the first leg of that tie, it was Vinicius Jr. who tore through Guardiola’s defense, leaving them clueless on how to stop him. His impressive numbers further prove that he is having a fantastic season. Finding an alternative to these two Real Madrid stars seems difficult.
While titles won at the end of the season will play a crucial role, last year’s results showed that they are not always decisive. Amid the ongoing debate, Karim Benzema has now shared his thoughts on the upcoming Ballon d’Or winner, and his prediction has stunned everyone. Despite the presence of other strong contenders, the French striker has made his choice clear.
Benzema has openly backed Vinicius Jr., stating, “I hope he wins the Ballon d’Or one day.” Even though he shares a good relationship with Mbappé and they are both French, Benzema has surprisingly overlooked him and given his full support to the Brazilian to claim the prestigious award.
Winning the Champions League Doesn’t Guarantee the Ballon d’Or
While the Champions League is the most prestigious club competition, recent years have shown that winning it does not necessarily secure the Ballon d’Or. A notable example was when Lionel Messi won the award largely based on his World Cup performances, despite playing only seven matches in the tournament and not being the standout performer throughout the season.
Similarly, in the previous edition, despite Real Madrid winning both La Liga and the Champions League—knocking out Manchester City in the quarter-finals—not a single Madrid player won the Ballon d’Or. Instead, the award went to Rodri, making it one of the most controversial decisions in recent memory.
It appears that the criteria for awarding the Ballon d’Or vary depending on the potential winner. Despite being an individual accolade, Messi received it for a collective achievement. In contrast, Vinicius Jr.’s outstanding performances in the Champions League semi-finals and final were not enough for him to win in 2024.
