Karim Benzema has stated he believes former teammate Vinícius Júnior “will win the Ballon d’Or at some point” after the Real Madrid ahead missed out on the award final yr.
Benzema, who left Madrid for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia in 2023, attended Madrid’s 3-0 Spanish Supercopa semifinal win over Mallorca in Jeddah on Thursday, after visiting the staff at their lodge within the metropolis.
Vinícius completed second within the 2024 males’s Ballon d’Or standings — behind Manchester City midfielder Rodri — with Madrid boycotting the Paris ceremony in protest.
“[I told Vinicius] to not take any discover,” Benzema told Marca in an interview on Saturday. “He should not decrease his depth, as a result of he is the most effective on this planet, and at some point he’ll win the Ballon d’Or.”
Benzema gained the Ballon d’Or in 2022 after a season during which he led Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double — a feat which wasn’t sufficient to see Vinicius handed the prize two years later.
However, the Brazil worldwide did win FIFA’s males’s The Best award final month.
Benzema’s Al Ittihad are high of the Saudi Pro League with 36 factors from 13 video games, with the ahead scoring 10 objectives in 10 appearances.
He dismissed experiences that he is contemplating retiring on the finish of this season.
“I do not know whose phrases they’re. Nonsense,” Benzema stated. “I haven’t got a restrict, to have the ability to say that in two, three or 4 years, that I’ll be leaving soccer. I really feel good. My physique is ok. I practice nicely and we’ll see how I really feel every year.”
In his first season in Saudi Arabia, Benzema didn’t win a trophy, with Al Ittihad ending fifth within the league, however the staff’s type has improved this marketing campaign.
“I need to maintain profitable,” Benzema stated. “In my head, I need to win a trophy with Al Ittihad. It’s troublesome as a result of the extent has improved quite a bit and the groups are sturdy, higher than earlier than. We’ll maintain working, as a result of we have not gained something but.”
The former France worldwide refused to rule out returning to Madrid sooner or later in some capability.
“Why not?” Benzema stated. “I’m in Jeddah now, and I’m blissful. The time will come to see how my life is, and for positive I’ll be near Madrid.”
