Karim Benzema wins Ballon d'Or although Real Madrid leave bitter
Los Blancos did not win as much as they thought they would at the awards ceremony
Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or but Real Madrid left the ceremony feeling a little bitter. President Florentino Perez led a delegation there and they expected more than they got. Man City won the prize for the best team in the world. Madrid were third, behind Liverpool.
Florentino’s face said it all, although he was happy when Benzema got on stage to pick up the trophy.
“The president is a member of my family, he gave me the chance to sign for Madrid and from that day he has always supported me,” said the striker.
He netted 44 goals in 46 games for Real Madrid last season.
"This prize in front of me makes me really proud," said Benzema. "When I was small, it was a childhood dream, I never gave up. Anything is possible.
"I'm really proud of my journey here. It wasn't easy, it was a difficult time for my family as well."
Zinedine Zidane, the former Real Madrid manager, gave Benzema the prize.
After Benzema, Courtois was the next player in the rankings and he came seventh and won the Yashin Prize for best keeper.
In eighth came Vinicius Junior and ninth Luka Modric, who didn’t even travel to Paris. Benzema won the Ballon d’Or 24 years after his compatriot Zidane, with Kopa, Platini (3) and Papin earning it before for a Les Bleus player.
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