Karim Benzema's transfer from Lyon to Real Madrid in 2009 cost 35 million euros, including a round-trip private plane from Madrid to Lyon. It's been 13 years since the Frenchman first set foot in the Spanish city, and he's now the obvious favorite to win the Ballon d'Or in 2022.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said that Benzema will be regarded as the finest player in the world at some time during his career, and he was correct.
The 34-year-old striker has 320 goals in 600 games for Real Madrid, winning 20 titles during his stint with the club. After a decade of being overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema has finally taken over as the team's leader.
The race for the Ballon d'Or
In the hunt for the Ballon d'Or, Benzema is up against players like Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah, and Robert Lewandowski.
If Benzema wins the aforementioned prize, a condition in his contract will be triggered, and he will receive a sizable bonus. Real Madrid and Benzema considered renewing his current contract, which runs until 2023, during their most recent conversations.
They both agreed, though, to wait and see how his body reacts over the next few months. Real Madrid believes that Benzema should be awarded the Ballon d'Or. The Frenchman has never even made it onto the podium for the prize, finishing fourth behind Lionel Messi,Jorginho and Robert Lewandowski in the most recent edition.
Real Madrid might win LaLiga Santander this weekend, ahead of the return leg of their Champions League semi-final showdown against Manchester City next week. Benzema is the top scorer in LaLiga Santander this season with 25 goals, and he has 14 goals in Europe, scoring more over 40 goals and registering 13 assists in all competitions.
Benzema is presently third in the European Golden Boot race behind Lewandowski and Ciro Immobile, having also won the UEFA Nations League with France. Because of his popularity in Spain and Europe, the Frenchman is usually considered the favorite to win the Ballon d'Or.
This year, only journalists from the top one hundred countries in the FIFA rankings will vote, with individual performance taking precedence above collective achievements and sportsmanship.
L'Equipe believes he is the frontrunner, but Real Madrid has been clamoring for his recognition in recent years. Meanwhile, Benzema will pass Raul Gonzalez (323 goals) as Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer if he scores four more goals.
Benzema has been dubbed "the best striker in the world" by Ronaldo Nazario, Rio Ferdinand, and Mesut Ozil.
When Carlo Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid for his second spell, he discovered a totally different Benzema. He saw a lot more mature and responsible player,more accountable and capable of leading his teammates to shared success
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