Ballon d'Or Benzema! Real Madrid star earns new deal for winning award

James Shearman

• Updated: 20 Apr 2023 22:09 BST
• 3 min read

Karim Benzema has been rewarded with a one-year contract extension at Real Madrid for winning the Ballon d'Or.

The Frenchman's contract at Santiago Bernabeu was due to expire at the end of the 2022-23 season.

However, the 35-year-old's individual achievement triggered a special clause in his contract, according to AS.

MORE: Toxic Ronaldo has talked himself out of Chelsea move

Benzema won the Ballon d'Or in 2022 for a an exceptional calendar year in which he won La Liga and the Champions League.

The Frenchman, who had previously been responsible for facilitating Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, was able to realise his potential as the main man.

And now, at 35 years of age, he is widely recognised as one of the best players in the world and is thoroughly deserving of another season at Real.

Having scored an incredible 349 goals in 640 games, he will go down as a Madrid legend.

Real Madrid's 2022-23 season

Real Madrid's season has been bitterly disappointing from a domestic point of view.

Los Blancos are nine points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona with just nine games to go.

That being said, Madrid can still turn this season into a special one with another Champions League success.

Having knocked Chelsea out of the quarter-finals this week, Carlo Ancelotti's side will face Manchester City next.

Should they progress, a final against either AC Milan or Inter Milan awaits.