Thierry Henry Reveals People Laughed at Him for Believing Karim Benzema Will Win Ballon d’Or

• Thierry Henry has celebrated Karim Benzema’s Ballon d’Or success by revealing he has always been a fan of the Real Madrid forward
• Benzema became the oldest first-time winner of the Ballon d’Or after bagging the coveted award at the age of 34
• Benzema scored 44 goals and claimed 15 assists in 46 games across competitions for Real Madrid in a stellar campaign for the Spanish champions

Arsenal icon, Thierry Henry is feeling vindicated after witnessing Karim Benzema win his first Ballon d’Or award on Monday night in Paris.

The 1998 FIFA World Cup winner revealed he has been a fan of Benzema for over 15 years and believed the forward had the capacity to win the best player award in his career.

Henry revealed that he was laughed at for supporting Benzema instead of multiple award winners Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Sportskeeda reports.

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“In a world full of Ronaldo and Messi fans, I was a Karim Benzema fan for 15 years of my life. They laughed at me when I told them he will challenge for the Ballon d'Or with Real Madrid one day. Every hero has his day. Never stop working. Be like Karim.”

Benzema edged Sadio Mane and Robert Lewandowski to win his first Ballon d’Or award after a stellar season with Real Madrid where he scored 44 goals last season.

Henry shocked at Richards' Benzema opinion

Meanwhile, Thierry Henry has expressed his disbelief at fellow pundit Micah Richards after the Englishman revealed he had only just started rating the Real Madrid striker, Give Me Sport reports.

Richards had admitted that he's only just starting to rate Benzema after the forward scored a first-half hattrick against PSG in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 last season.

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Benzema scored 44 goals for Real Madrid in the 2021/22 season and now becomes the oldest player to win the Ballon d’Or for the first time.

Henry backs Benzema to win the Ballon d'Or

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has declared Karim Benzema the clear winner of this year's Ballon d'Or.

The Real Madrid attacker has been in sensational form this season, inspiring Los Blancos to two major titles including the La Liga and Champions League titles.

While the 34-year-old was held scoreless in the Champions League final on Saturday night, May 28, against Liverpool, he did have a goal ruled out for offside.