With the 2022 Balon d’Or award show getting closer and the new rule change, winning the award would not have anything to do with the FIFA World Cup and the new season. The metrics for winning are based on last season’s performance and team achievements. It differs from how Vegas online casino sites get awarded after another season.
We usually see some of the top superstars of last season go head-to-head for the award. However, this year’s award seems to be different. Karim Benzema was impressive from the start of last season to the end. He had the most significant impact on the Real Madrid team, captaining them to their 14th UCL title.
The striker was the team’s leading man; anytime he was unavailable, they struggled, and it showed. We saw a player leading by example and carrying his teammates along. And fortunately for the French star, the team got the double last season. They were able to win the UCL and the La Liga.
As a result, he is in the running for the Balon d’Or this season, and since other superstars can’t measure up, it seems like Benzema would be winning the award undisputed. He has all the credentials on lockdown and checks everything on the list. But given how some other players have impressed this season, would there be a challenge for Karim Benzema.
Let’s look at the 2021/2022 season to see if Benzema was the best player in the world last season or if other players can give him a run for the award this year. Let’s dive right in!
Benzema, Real Madrid, and La Liga
Throughout the 2021/2022 La Liga season, we saw a dominant Real Madrid with Benzema leading the line. The player had an impressive season from start to finish. The team struggled whenever Benzema was missing from the squad, and we could tell how important he was to the squad.
Carlo Ancellotti was impressed by how he helped the team even when they were in possession, and it was a perfect way for them to transition from defense to attack. We could see that Benzema was pivotal to the team and the coach’s tactics, and in the end, Real Madrid was crowned champion of La Liga.
In addition, Benzema ended the season with the most goals after he netted 27 for the Los Blancos, and he was the best player in the league by far. It was a dominating season for the French striker. It is refreshing to finally see him reach his full potential for Real Madrid after many years of playing in the shadows of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 2021/2022 UCL Run
The 2021/2022 UCL season was the best in the last couple of years. We hadn’t had such an impressive run from any team since 2012 when Chelsea, against all odds, won the UEFA Champions League at the Allianz Arena against Bayern Munich. Chelsea was down and out on many occasions, but they returned to winning.
Many people called it pure luck, but it was share discipline, drive, motivation, commitment, and a little fortune to win in that style. Real Madrid’s win wasn’t very different as they were written off after losing to Sheriff Tiraspol at the Bernabeau. However, they struggled to make it out of the group.
Then, they were paired against one of the best teams and top contenders for the competition, Paris Saint-Germain, in the round of 16. They lost the first leg but went on to win the second leg after going down in the first half from Benzema’s brilliance as he scored twice in a few minutes. They went on to face Chelsea, the team that had eliminated them the previous season.
The first leg at the bridge was perfect for the Spanish side as they won 3-1. However, they were down 3-0 at the Bernabeau, but with a few minutes to go, a brilliant pass from Modric to Rodrigo sent the game to extra time, where Benzema helped them through to the next round, where they faced Manchester City.
It was another tricky tie; they lost the first leg 4-3 and were down on their luck in the second until the closing minute when they got quick succession goals to go to extra time. In the end, Benzema was there to finish it off. Although Benzema did not score in the final, we can’t deny his impact on the team’s run in the 2021/2022 UCL season.
Other Challengers and Our Thoughts
Undoubtedly, it doesn’t seem like any other player had the season Benzema had last season. And if we are to talk about players that came close, Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah, Kevin de Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe, and Robert Lewandowski would be on our list.
However, none of them came close to Karim Benzema last season. Therefore, we believe that Benzema would be the undisputed Balon d’Or winner this year. It has been a long time coming, and he well and truly deserves to win.
