Real Madrid star Karim Benzema said emulating Zinedine Zidane and the Brazilian Ronaldo by winning the Ballon d'Or would fulfil a childhood dream.
The Frenchman is among the 30 players who were shortlisted for the award earlier this month and is confident he can follow in the footsteps of two of his idols, both of whom preceded him at the Santiago Bernabeu
'Win the Ballon d'Or? Yes, that would be one of the many dreams I have had since childhood,' Benzema told French broadcaster Canal+.
'Of course I dreamed of it as a kid.
'My idols, whether it's R9 [Ronaldo] or Zizou [Zidane], they came to Real Madrid and won the Ballon d'Or.
'And that's one of the little things I think about. Today, I’m not far from it.'
Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or in 1997 after his solitary season with Barcelona and added a second five years later in recognition for his stellar performances at the 2002 World Cup.
Zidane, meanwhile, scooped up the accolade in 1998 following a stellar campaign in which he won Serie A with Juventus and scored twice in France's World Cup final triumph over Brazil.
The Frenchman moved to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2001 and was joined by Ronaldo a year later.
Benzema won two LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues while playing under Zidane at Real Madrid, and the latter believes his compatriot deserves to be recognised when the winner is announced in Paris on November 29.
'We are talking about a player who deserves to win this Ballon d'Or,' Zidane told Telefoot.
'He's an incredible player, I had the great honor of coaching him.
'He associates easily with others.
'He knows how to do everything in the field. I hope he can be rewarded with this Ballon d'Or.'
Benzema finished as LaLiga's second-most prolific goalscorer last season with 24 goals - the second-highest tally since he joined Real in 2009 - and has started the current campaign on the front foot.
He leads LaLiga in goals and assists and scored in both the semifinal and final of the UEFA Nations League as France ended up lifting the trophy.
Nandha77
318
Less Goals than Messi Less Assists than Messi Less Chances Created than Messi Less Dribbles than Messi Less MOTM than Messi Less top Scorer Award than Messi Less POTT awards than Messi Big Chances Missed.. . They Want Ballon d'or for Benzema..
Gunners4ever❤
188
And some think Big Benz was better throughout the year than Messi[Crylaugh]
MichaelFrolian
146
The best foward in th world right now deserve a Ballon d'Or, but not this year, Messi 🐐!
Mohomadsalah
103
BENZEMAD"OR IS LOADING%
Shuvo45
65
PTLEY7
56
To all those Messi fans who are crying. It’s a Balon D’or not Bolivia D’or…🤪🤪🤪 Look at the stats…
SaurabDhakal10_7
41
😂 can't understand a Ronaldo fan
❖Vsdl
20
messi less goals than many players in 2021.😂
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yeah & most of ronaldo goals..
RazaAhmad7
14
Less Goals than Messi Less Assists than Messi Less Chances Created than Messi Less Dribbles than Messi Less MOTM than Messi Less top Scorer Award than Messi Less POTT awards than Messi Big Chances Missed.. . They Want Ballon d'or for Benzema..
messi less goals than many players in 2021.😂
❖Vsdl
12
messi less goals than many players in 2021.😂
[image]
and selfish péndu who only stay inside box waiting for ball or just dive there instead
❖Vsdl
12
Less Goals than Messi Less Assists than Messi Less Chances Created than Messi Less Dribbles than Messi Less MOTM than Messi Less top Scorer Award than Messi Less POTT awards than Messi Big Chances Missed.. . They Want Ballon d'or for Benzema..
tell them man..
BillyDedon
11
To all those Messi fans who are crying. It’s a Balon D’or not Bolivia D’or…🤪🤪🤪 Look at the stats…
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Messi score 1 goal against Sevilla 5 goals against Atlectic Bilbao 2 goals against Real Sociedad 1 goal against Villarreal 3 goals against Betis 3 goals against Granada 3 goals against Valencia Those are the bottom teams Messi score against in Laliga.
Nandha77
11
messi less goals than many players in 2021.😂
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Messi Highest Assists than All
Dhruv0010
11
Less Goals than Messi Less Assists than Messi Less Chances Created than Messi Less Dribbles than Messi Less MOTM than Messi Less top Scorer Award than Messi Less POTT awards than Messi Big Chances Missed.. . They Want Ballon d'or for Benzema..
Fanboys incoming
fueacmnu
10
To all those Messi fans who are crying. It’s a Balon D’or not Bolivia D’or…🤪🤪🤪 Look at the stats…
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You are a crime . Fact 1: Scoring in Copa is way difficult than in Europe :( there are 21 players with 50+ goals in Euros vs 8 in copa America ) and Chili and Bolivia are ranked higher than Luxembourg or Lativia 2: you just made up a statistic but the fact is Messi has score 36.7 % of his goals against bottom 7 vs CR7 58.6% and Lowndowski 41.5 % . 3. Barca were so mediocre last year it was solely due to Messi they made it to 3rd finish . That is not against wining B’Dor ( Rivaldo won it just for getting Barca to qualify for UCL) 4. Leo has most of MOTM awards 5. He has a lot of assist Again you are a crime
futdknortu
10
Haha don’t compare bottler to the GOAT…
say again 🤣🤣
LM10DGOAT
10
Less Goals than Messi Less Assists than Messi Less Chances Created than Messi Less Dribbles than Messi Less MOTM than Messi Less top Scorer Award than Messi Less POTT awards than Messi Big Chances Missed.. . They Want Ballon d'or for Benzema..
And even less trophies than Messi
diarchby
9
To all those Messi fans who are crying. It’s a Balon D’or not Bolivia D’or…🤪🤪🤪 Look at the stats…
[image]
Messi deserves the Ballondor 100%💙
my-world-football
9
Ok, Bring the Truth 😏. Truth Always Makes u Pain 🤣
This is the true stats
iamsomeonehehept3
9
Less Goals than Messi Less Assists than Messi Less Chances Created than Messi Less Dribbles than Messi Less MOTM than Messi Less top Scorer Award than Messi Less POTT awards than Messi Big Chances Missed.. . They Want Ballon d'or for Benzema..
i benzema continues this form, he will win the next ballon dor for sure( i mean the ballon 'dor cermony in 2022)
Hambcnsty
8
To all those Messi fans who are crying. It’s a Balon D’or not Bolivia D’or…🤪🤪🤪 Look at the stats…
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Little man from unknown South America came, saw and conquered European footballing world surpassing overrated, overhyped European football players. Thus, Ballon d'or deserve a player like Messi.
Naveenraj222
8
This is the true stats
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What kind of stats are these??? 😂🤣lots of flaws just like you. 1. Messi just played one international tournament.. But Benzama played two Tournaments 😂🤣. is this even a comparison??. 2. Talking about second slide.... You know ballon dor is based on calender year. But you brough up 20/21 season stats. and 21/22 season stats. Nice technique to show Benz as a better player 😂🤣. 3. On Third slide. Why don't you talk about Chances created, big chance missed, dribbles, Key passes, MOTMs???. You are only showing stats which are in the favor of Benz...😂