French International and Real Madrid forward has beaten team-mate Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City Midfielder Kevin De Bryune to become the 2021-2022 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.
The award was bestowed on him following the Champions League group-stage draw in Istanbul on Thursday. He was the top scorer in last season’s Champions League and LaLiga.
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This enhances Benzema’s status as the frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or. He guided Madrid to the Champions League and LaLiga double, netting 44 goals in 46 games across all competitions.
The 34-year-old was named among the 30 Ballon d’Or nominees earlier this month, with the long-time Madrid star seemingly the outstanding favourite.
Benzema scored 27 goals in 32 games as Madrid won LaLiga, and he also netted 15 in 12 Champions League outings en route to Los Blancos lifting their 14th European crown in Paris in May.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also was celebrated at the ceremony, beating Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp to be awarded the UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year Award.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur