CNN
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It is likely to mark the end of an era.
Karim Benzema is the big favorite to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday, and the Real Madrid star’s expected success could finally signal the end of the stranglehold Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have had on the prize.
Messi or Ronaldo have won the Ballon d’Or 12 of the 13 times the prestigious trophy has been awarded in the past 14 years – including sharing it 10 consecutive years between 2008 and 2017 – with Luka Modric being the only player to have won during this period. deadline in 2018.
Although Messi won it in 2019 and 2021 – with the 2020 edition canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic – neither the Argentine nor Ronaldo have been named to the 30-man shortlist for the award. this year, with both having endured stilted seasons at their respective clubs.
Having been nominated for the award nine times previously, Benzema is the overwhelming favorite to win this year after enjoying a stellar season in charge of Real Madrid.
The 34-year-old scored key goals as he helped Real Madrid win both the Spanish league title and the Champions League last season.
Benzema has scored a total of 44 goals in 46 appearances in the 2021-22 season, including 15 Champions League goals – the competition’s top scorer – and has reestablished himself in the France international squad.
The likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski – who is now at Barcelona after joining Catalan side Bayern Munich for the start of the current season – and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne were also on the debut. Balloon d ‘Or shortlist.
For the women’s award, a trio of England’s Euro 2022 winning side – Millie Bright, Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze – headline the nominations while Barcelona and Spain star Alexia Putellas is in vying to win the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row. , although he hasn’t played since picking up the injury ahead of last summer’s Euros.
Benzema has also started well this season, scoring five goals in his first 10 appearances, as well as scoring a goal in Sunday’s El Clasico win against arch-rivals Barcelona.
After playing second fiddle to Ronaldo for so many years at Real Madrid, Benzema has established himself as one of the best strikers in European football in recent years.
In every season since Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, Benzema has scored at least 27 goals as he has emerged as Real Madrid’s main threat.
And last season was his finest season in the Spanish giants’ famous white kit, as he helped propel the side to a record 14th Champions League title and dominating La Liga triumph.
The award, one of football’s most prestigious awards, has undergone a format change from previous years.
Typically, players were judged on their performance over a calendar year, but this season sees them judged over a football season – in this case, the 2021-22 campaign.
A journalist selected from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA World Ranking chooses their top five players from the shortlist and the player ranked first on a voter form receives six points, second receives four, third receives three points, fourth gets two points and fifth gets one point.
