Benzema escapes Ronaldo's shadow to become world's best player
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:46 CDT
- 4 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo won his fifth and most recent Ballon d’Or in 2017 while leading the line at Real Madrid, but few would have expected that his strikepartner Karim Benzema would be the next one out of the duo to win the award.
Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d’Or on Monday as the overwhelming choice after an incredible season where he netted a career-high 44 goals and led Real to a La Liga and Champions League double.
READ MORE: The Ronaldo-Ballon d'Or love affair is over
The victory marks just the second time since 2007 that a player other than Ronaldo or Lionel Messi has claimed the award and perhaps highlights a transition out of the era of their dominance.
Ronaldo finished in 20th place in the voting – his worst result since 2005 – and Benzema’s success is perhaps the greatest reward for years of selfless service to the Portuguese star’s legendary career.
In the four-and-a-bit seasons since Ronaldo left Real in 2018, Benzema has scored 136 goals in all competitions, having grabbed just 81 in the same amount of time prior.
The Frenchman was often used as a facilitator to Ronaldo and took a supportive role for the sake of the team, which resulted in 15 trophies during their time as teammates.
However, Benzema has enjoyed a more focal role following Ronaldo’s departure and he has become an unlikely star of Real’s side, being named the club’s player of the year on three occasions.
But Benzema’s finest individual accolade came in Paris where he picked up the Golden Ball and perhaps showed that Ronaldo was holding the Frenchman back from showcasing his full potential.
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When Ronaldo joined Juventus in 2018, Real opted against bringing in an out-and-out replacement, although they did sign Vinicius Junior that summer, who has since become an integral part of Madrid’s side.
Real did spend €115 million on Eden Hazard the following year but the Belgian’s injury concerns have made him all but a footnote in Madrid, while striker Luka Jovic has come and gone despite costing €60m.
Real’s failed replacements for Ronaldo could perhaps be the biggest compliment of all to Benzema, as the club have not felt the impact of their big money moves backfiring due to the goals of their vice-captain.
Benzema’s day today. #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/rOWkTzoJal
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 17, 2022
In fact, the club are reportedly not interested in pursuing Kylian Mbappe next summer as they are still happy with Benzema, despite being 34 years old and only scoring five goals so far this season.
Benzema will undoubtedly go down as a Real Madrid legend and has now joined some of football’s elite in winning the Ballon d’Or – having once been in Ronaldo’s shadow, the sidekick has officially become the hero.
