Messi: Benzema deserves Ballon d’Or, Madrid not the best team
FT Desk
- 31 May 2022 02:47 CDT
- 3 min read
Lionel Messi has declared that Karim Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, while he also takes a dig at Real Madrid.
Benzema is the red-hot favourite to win football’s most prestigious individual prize after a sensational year in which he led Madrid to both Champions League and La Liga glory.
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The veteran Frenchman scored 44 goals in 46 games in all competitions and was pivotal in the Champions League knockout wins over PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City.
And Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, says there is no doubt Benzema should take home the prize.
What did Messi say?
“There's no doubt, its very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year," Messi told TyC Sports. “I think there is no doubt this year.”
Benzema was the main man when Madrid dumped Messi’s PSG out of the Champions League in the last-16 this past season.
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PSG were cruising into the next round as they led 2-0 on aggregate in the second leg at the Bernabeu but were stunned by a Benzema-inspired comeback.
“Out of the blue they score against you, and the match changes automatically,” Messi said.
“Madrid was not the best team in this Champions League, there were better teams.”
Madrid were something of the comeback kings in the Champions League knockouts, coming back from the brink of defeat against PSG, Chelsea and Man City.
Two injury-time goals in the second leg against Man City in the semis forced extra-time, with Benzema then hitting the winner from the penalty spot.
In the final itself, Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Paris thanks to a second-half goal from Vinicius Junior.
