Ballon d’Or 2022: ‘It would be a scandal if Benzema doesn’t win the Ballon d’Or’ – Former Man Utd player Louis Saha

Louis Saha believes “it would be a scandal” if Karim Benzema doesn’t win the 2022 Ballon d’Or following his role in Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League double.

Benzema scored a goal or assist for every 89 minutes last year and also scored 15 goals in 12 Champions League appearances, including hat-tricks in matches against Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

He scored 27 goals from 32 La Liga appearances and became Real Madrid’s joint-second highest goalscorer, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo who leads the way on 405 goals to Benzema’s and Raul’s 323.

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“There is no other players to mention here. No debate. If he doesn’t win it, I don’t think I would ever, ever look at it again. That’s it. It would be a scandal.”

Benzema is one of Real Madrid’s all-time great strikers, but he has never even been in the Ballon d’Or’s top three.

If he wins, he will be the fourth French player to do it, joining Raymond Kopa Michel Platini Zinedine Zidane, and Michel Platini. Three of the four players also played for Real Madrid.

Club president Florentino Perez has signed four previous Ballon d’Or winners for Real Madrid. Ronaldo. Fabio Cannavaro. Luis Figo. Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema would make it five, but Perez already has his eyes on a sixth.

He trusts Benzema’s ability to find the back of the net so much, that he informed Real Madrid to not to pursue Erling Haaland, who has joined Manchester City, earlier this summer.

Perez stated, “This moment is not compatible with Haaland.”

“We weren’t going to recruit him to place him on the bench. One day, Benzema’s replacement will be found. But it won’t be to sit on the bench.”

Should Benzema win the Ballon d’Or, he will become the fourth French player to do so, joining Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane.

For the first time in the award’s history, the results of the Ballon d’Or will not be based on a calendar year but a season.

The nominations will be announced August 12th, with the ceremony in Paris on October 17th.