'There are no uncertainties this year,' Lionel Messi says of Karim Benzema, but slams Robert Lewandowski, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2021.
Messi has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards as the world's best player, but saw his new club Paris Saint-Germain eliminated by Madrid in the round of 16 of the Champions League this year — after Benzema scored a hat trick in the second half of the return leg.
Lionel Messi has stated that he has "no doubt" that Karim Benzema will win the Ballon d'Or this year.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, 34, is the favourite for the award after scoring 44 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions this season, guiding Los Blancos to the Champions League and LaLiga crowns.
And current champion Messi, who has won the trophy seven times, told Argentine TV station TyC Sports that French sensation Benzema was a shoe-in.
'I don't think there are any doubts this year,' he added.
'It is undeniable that Benzema had a fantastic year and won the Champions League, playing a key role in all of the games from the last 16 onwards.'
And Messi addressed the last two awards, when Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was generally seen as deserving of the 2020 prise before it was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Messi, who lobbied for Lewandowski to win the award in 2020, was beaten by the Pole in 2021, and Lewandowski expressed disappointment, prompting Messi to retort by declaring he was 'not interested' in what his adversary had to say on the subject.
'Obviously, he can express himself and say what he wants,' the Argentine continued. I honestly don't agree with what he stated, but I also didn't give it any weight. That's it; it remained in place, and he can say anything he wants; I'm not interested.
'However, the things I spoke at that time came from the heart, and I truly felt that way.I had stated that he deserved the Ballon d'Or since I felt he was the greatest the year before, but the year I won it was not the finest. That's what I just stated.'