Real Madrid President Compares Ballon d’Or Winner Karim Benzema to Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario

Real Madrid President Compares Ballon d’Or Winner Karim Benzema to Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:14 PM
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  • Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says Karim Benzema has the attributes of former Los Blancos stars Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario
  • Zidane and Ronaldo are regarded as two of the best players to have played for Real Madrid who have won the World Cup in their careers
  • Benzema was crowned as the best player in the world on Monday night when he won his first Ballon d’Or award following a brilliant 2021/22 season

Karim Benzema cemented his place as a Real Madrid legend after the French forward was conferred his first Ballon d’Or award on Monday night as the best player in the world.

The 33-year-old forward has received special praise from Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez after his Ballon d’Or win after he was compared with icons Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario.

Karim Benzema, Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Los Blancos, France, Spain
Zinedine Zidane presented the Ballon d'Or award to Karim Benzema during the ceremony in Paris on Monday. Photo by Aurelien Meunier
Source: Getty Images

Perez believes Benzema is a combination of both Real Madrid legends as he has the attributes of the French and Brazilian World Cup winners. Fansided reports.

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“He’s a nine, a mix of Ronaldo and Zidane, he does those two jobs at the same time. He is a crack. He moves the lead like Zidane did and shoots on goal as Ronaldo Nazario did.”

Benzema becomes the only other player after Luka Modric to win the most prestigious award in football during the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era which began in 2008.

Zidane hails Ballon d'Or winner Benzema

Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane has lauded Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema as the greatest French striker ever after the 35-year-old won his first Ballon d'Or award, Goal reports.

Zidane who coached Benzema to win 3 Champions League titles in their time together at Real Madrid, revealed the forward has always been his favourite French striker.

Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games for Real Madrid last season as he led them to win the La Liga and the Champions League titles.

Florentino Perez reveals how he signed Benzema

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Karim Benzema is a Los Blancos legend, but his tale of joining Real Madrid wasn't as easy as agents and club agreeing on a deal.

Following the striker's Ballon d'Or win, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez opened up on how Benzema was signed, and the story is quite heartwarming, to say the least.

Perez actually went to Benzema's home in 2009 to poach the French striker from Olympique Lyon.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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