Luis Suarez Admits Karim Benzema Deserves Ballon d’Or Award This Year but Claims Messi Is the GOAT

• Luis Suarez believes Real Madrid's Karim Benzema deserves this year's Ballon d'Or award but argued Lionel Messi will always be his Ballon d'Or favourite
• While Benzema enjoyed an outstanding campaign, Lionel Messi endured a difficult first season at Paris Saint-Germain
• Benzema has racked up an eyewatering 44 goals in 46 games to underline an impressive campaign and has been touted as the favourite for the prestigious individual award

Former FC Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has waded into the Ballon d'Or discussion, tipping Real Madrid talisman Karim Benzema to clinch the individual accolade this season but was quick to note that ex-teammate Lionel Messi is the best player ever.

The Uruguay international admitted that Benzema's stellar season deserves acknowledgement and awarding the Frenchman this season's coveted diadem will not be out of place.

Despite joining the bandwagon to tip the Real Madrid forward for the Ballon d'Or, Suarez was quick to stoke the 'Greatest of All Time' argument stressing Lionel Messi will always be his all-time best regardless of his underwhelming performance at PSG.

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Karim is widely touted as the leading contender for the award this year, following a prolific campaign across competitions, scoring 44 goals in 46 games.

Speaking on the Spanish radio network Cadena SER, Suarez said:

“As a season, yes. But for me, the Ballon d’Or will always go to Leo because he is the best in the world, but he didn’t have his year” as quoted by fairplaynews.

Benzema will have the opportunity to stave off any competition for the Ballon d'Or award in the upcoming UEFA Champions League finals this Saturday.

Mesut Ozil backs Karim Benzema for Ballon d'Or award

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former German international Mesut Ozil has called for Karim Benzema to be awarded the 2022 Ballon d'Or award.

The ex-Arsenal and Real Madrid playmaker arrived at his assertion on the back of Benzema's performance for the Los Blancos in the semifinal first-leg tie between Manchester City and Real Madrid.

In a post on Twitter, spotted by Sports Brief, Ozil contends Benzema has been peerless in this campaign and thus merits the coveted individual award.