It is Karim Benzema who was crowned by the journalists of the world. At 34, he becomes the oldest winner of the Ballon d’Or since 1956. At the time, a stainless Stanley Matthews (41 years old!) won the first trophy awarded. This election as best player of the season is a consecration for Benzema. Four years ago, he found himself an orphan of Cristiano Ronaldo, left for Juventus, and took sole responsibility for Real Madrid’s offensive. The eternal stooge of CR7 has turned into an undisputed headliner.
Messi in the closet, goalkeepers snubbed, “grandpa” Benzema: the five lessons of the Ballon d’Or ceremony
