Real Madrid icon Karim Benzema names best player in the world right now
Real Madrid icon Karim Benzema feels Vinicius Junior is the best player on the planet right now. The Frenchman had claimed the 2022 Ballon d'Or for his exceptional performances with Los Blancos.
Benzema's comments come after the drama surrounding the 2024 edition of the Ballon d'Or, which saw award favorite and Real Madrid forward Vinicius miss out on the prize to Manchester City's Rodri.
But Benzema continued to back his former teammates' claim for the award by calling him the best player in the world at the moment, telling El Chiringuito TV via Madris Xtra:
“Vini Jr is the best player in the world.”
Karim Benzema and Vinicus Jr played 186 games together for Real Madrid and combined for 42 goals. The pair helped the club win two LaLiga titles and one UEFA Champions League among other honors.
Benzema plays for the Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad and is enjoying a fine season, bagging eight goals and one assist from nine games across competitions.
“I hope he is mentally strong" - Karim Benzema sheds light on his conversation with Vinicius Jr
Karim Benzema shared details of his conversation with Vinicus Jr after the Brazilian's Ballon d'Or snub. The Real Madrid star missed out on the greatest individual prize in football last week after being widely tipped to claim the award.
Benzema, the last Los Blancos player to claim the award, said in an interview with El Chiringuito:
“I hope he [Vinicius] is mentally strong. Yesterday I was talking to Vinicius and he is strong enough to work and one day he will have it (the Ballon d’Or). I wrote him a message and he was sad. It’s normal. It’s a bit complicated when everyone sees you winning the Ballon d’Or and in the end, a day before or a few hours before, they tell you that you’re not going to win it. It’s very complicated. Vinicius is a good kid, he is going to work and one day he will win the Ballon d’Or."
Vinicius scored 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 games across competitions last season, helping Real Madrid win the LaLiga title, the Champions League, and the Supercopa de Espana.