Karim Benzema’s hot start of the season got his Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti to believe the best is yet to come. According to Ancelotti, Benzema’s fine form in 2021 should even get him in consideration for Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual award in soccer.
Benzema finished the last season with 30 goals in all competitions before joining the France national team for 2020 EURO and scoring four times in four matches. He is now following this up with a spectacular start in the 2021-22 La Liga campaign that saw him net eight goals and seven assists in just six matches.
“Yes, I think for what he’s doing and what he did last season, [Benzema] has to be on the list of players who could win the Ballon d’Or,” Ancelotti told reporters on Friday. “Having said that, Karim has time to win it. I don’t think this will be his last season. I think Karim is like wine, he gets better with age.”
Benzema’s goals have helped Real Madrid top the La Liga standings early on and remain there. They are still undefeated in the league and have five wins with only one draw.
Karim Benzema has been one of the most consistent players for Real in the past decade but still never managed to even enter the top three finalists for Ballon d’Or. His best result came in 2014 when he finished 16th in the voting.
