France boss Didier Deschamps is backing Real Madrid star Karim Benzema to win the Balon d’Or.
Benzema is being backed as one of the contenders to win the famous individual prize after making the list of 30.
The award, which will be handed out on November 29, has traditionally gone to one of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but in recent years, we have seen some alternative winners, including Luka Modric.
This year, following a covid-related hiatus last season, Messi is again favourite after finishing as top scorer in La Liga with Barcelona and helping Argentina to a Copa América title.
Meanwhile, Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski is also among the favourites after scoring 40 goals in Bundesliga alone last term.
But the Spanish media is on a campaign to get Benzema rewarded for his best goalscoring campaign to date with Real Madrid, the Frenchman finishing as the joint-second top scorer in La Liga.
And the Spanish media aren’t the only ones in Benzema’s corner, with France boss Deschamps also singing the striker’s praises.
“The Balon d’Or is a very important and prestigious individual award,” he said in a France press conference.
“Karim is a one of the aspirants at this moment and he is obviously a very serious candidate to win it.
“I don’t just say it because I’m his coach, I hope he wins it for all he achieved for the season he achieved with his club and the French national team”
