Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema Directs Focus to World Cup After Achieving Ballon d’Or Dream

• Karim Benzema has opened up on his ambitions about winning the World Cup in Qatar which commences on Sunday, November 20
• With the World Cup on the horizon, Benzema's France - who are the defending champions of the Mundial - have been tipped by many as favourites to win the quadrennial tournament
• France has been drawn into Group D alongside fellow European country Denmark, Asian giants Australia and 2004 African champions Tunisia

Karim Benzema has switched his attention to the FIFA World Cup after reaching a career milestone with his Ballon d'Or success on Monday night.

Benzema became the fifth French player to receive the coveted Golden Ball award on Monday, October 17 on the back of a phenomenal 2021-22 season.

The 34-year-old forward spearheaded a hugely successful campaign for Los Blancos which resulted in their 14th Champions League, 35th La Liga and 12th Supercopa de Espana crowns.

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Following his Ballon d'Or success, he has now set a lofty yet realistic target of winning the World Cup with Les Bleus.

“The promises to my mother have been kept, that’s why I’m very proud. I still have ambitions, I would like to win the World Cup with the French team. It’s a goal: to go to the World Cup and do everything to win it.” Benzema said as quoted by RMC Sport.

But the ex-Olympique Lyon prodigy will be wary of the dark cloud' covering active holders of the Ballon d'Or ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

According to Get French Football News, never has an active holder of the most prestigious individual prize in football ever won the Mundial before.

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Despite the grim verdict about active Ballon d'Or holders, Karim will be confident of exorcising some ghosts in Qatar after helping France to win the UEFA Nations League last year on his return to the national team.

Messi names France as favourites for World Cup

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi has singled out five countries he believes are favourites to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Up to 32 teams are scheduled to compete for the global football showpiece when the tournament kicks off later in November.

A number of world football heavyweights will be looking to win the prestigious trophy, with France, who won the last edition in Russia, keen to defend the crown.