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Written by Martin Graham | June 9, 2022
Former France international Mathieu Valbuena threw his weight behind Karim Benzema’s Ballon d’Or goal after the French striker’s brilliant year.
Valbuena and Benzema were good friends in the French national team until a scandal involving a sex tape with Valbuena in which they boated their relationship rocked. It was alleged that Benzema tried to blackmail Valbuena, which led to the 34-year-old being ostracized for five years by the France national team.
Benzema was convicted of extortion in the sex tape scandal in October 2021 and was criticized by the court with a fine of 75,000 euros and a suspended prison sentence. The striker appealed after the ruling but dropped his appeal last week, citing mental exhaustion from the process.
Valbuena said RMC Sport He has bypassed the case since sentencing. “I don’t feel any grudge at all,” he said, “and always say what I have to say.” “It was a tough time, but I was able to recover from it. Now everyone is going their own way.”
The case also did not cast a shadow over the ruling of the attacking midfielder, as he admitted the steps of his former teammate in European football this year. The 2021/22 season saw Benzema at his best as he led Real Madrid to win three titles including the La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles, as well as the Supercopa de Espana.
The youth producer at Olympique Lyonnais scored 44 goals in all competitions to help the club secure those three titles, while also scoring in the UEFA Nations League Final to make France the second winner of the new competition upon his return to the national team.
Valbuena said RMC Sport When asked about Benzema’s chances of getting the Ballon d’Or: “It would be insincere to say that Benzema does not deserve the Ballon d’Or. Yes, he does. I can speak objectively on a sporting level and I can do it happily. No problem.”
Valbuena’s comments come after Messi nominated Benzema for the prestigious award recently. “I think there is no doubt that Benzema should win the Ballon d’Or,” Messi said. TyC Sports While on international duty with Argentina. “It is very clear that Benzema had a great year and ended up going up in the Champions League, as he has been necessary from the last 16 onwards in all the matches. I think there are no doubts this year.”
Benzema was delighted to receive such high praise from the man who won the most Ballon d’Or awards in history. He said a few days after Messi’s comments: “I heard Messi’s words and they made me very happy, very happy because they came from a player like him.” “They give me motivation to do more things.”
Benzema will also find his former team-mate’s words soothing and can now confidently look forward to the Awards Gala in January 2023.
