“I think there are no doubts this year” - When Lionel Messi picked his rival as Ballon d’Or winner
Lionel Messi had no qualms that Karim Benzema was the undisputed Ballon d'Or winner in 2022. The Frenchman was in sparkling form in the 2021-22 campaign as Real Madrid won the La Liga-UEFA Champions League double.
Producing one of the most prolific seasons of his illustrious career, the Al-Ittihad striker registered an impressive haul of 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 games across competitions. That included 15 strikes and two goals in 12 UEFA Champions League outings as Los Blancos won the competition for a record-extending 14th time.
Benzema also registered 27 goals and 12 assists in 32 matches in La Liga, where Carlo Ancelotti's side emerged victorious. His other goal contributions - two goals and an assist in two games - came in the Supercopa.
In a May 2022 interview with Tyc Sports (via GOAL), Messi said that he had no qualms that Benzema would be the undisputed Ballon d'Or winner that year, which eventually happened.
"I think there are no doubts Benzema should win Ballon d'Or," Messi said. "It is very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up elevating himself with the Champions League, being essential from the last 16 onwards in all the games. I think there are no doubts this year."
Meanwhile, the 2021-22 season was a rather modest one for Lionel Messi by his staggering standards. Having joined PSG in the summer after a prolific 17-season stay at Barcelona, the Argentine bagged 11 goals and 15 assists in 34 games across competitions.
Lionel Messi talked about 'different' 2021-22 season with PSG
Lionel Messi is one of the best players to have graced the beautiful game and one of the most prolific scorers ever. However, he failed to replicate his staggering Barcelona numbers in his first season in Paris.
While the Parisians won the Ligue 1 title in a canter, they faltered in the UEFA Champions League, falling to eventual champions Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16 after 1-0 a first-leg win.
"It was new for me," he said. "It's a different situation. It had never happened to me in Barcelona but quite the opposite. The situation of the people and the anger for the players we had, for the team we were and because another year (went without a Champions League title), the anger is understandable.
"The Real Madrid thing killed us. To me, to the entire dressing room in general, to all of Paris."
Lionel Messi is now at Inter Miami in MLS, having joined the Herons on a free transfer last summer after two seasons at PSG.