At the end of November, Lionel Messi's successor for the award of the Golden Ball will be known.
Several French players - N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea, the favorite choice of the French), Kylian Mbappé (PSG) and Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - are in the running.
For Zinédine Zidane, the choice is made.
In an interview with Téléfoot, the former Madrid coach hopes to see his former player win the famous distinction.
The winner will be announced on November 29.
“Right now, he's on cloud nine,” Zizou said.
I would give him the Golden Ball.
Benzema deserves to win it, that's for sure.
He's an incredible player, I had the great honor of coaching him.
He knows how to do everything in the field.
He is above it, and I hope he can be rewarded with this Ballon d'Or ”.
The last French winner in 1998, the double scorer in the World Cup final that same year added that "things are starting to take a long time."
Boss Zidane votes Benzema of course
The campaign continues #BenzemaBallonDor pic.twitter.com/DDVyiJ4stw
- NC (@ NC_69_) October 17, 2021
Karim Benzema is certainly one of the big outsiders, although he has only won one title this year, with his national team.
The League of Nations, however, weighs less in the balance than the Copa America, won by Lionel Messi and Argentina, in terms of notoriety.
To tip the scales in his favor, the center-forward of the Blues can nevertheless count on the support of Ronaldo, his Brazilian counterpart, and his former boss at OL, Jean-Michel Aulas.
He is one of those who thinks of their team, not of their statistics, his presence changes a game.
We are all witnesses of his success, of his humility, he who has never forgotten where he came from.
Football needs players like him.
Karim Benzema Golden Ball, obvious https://t.co/ul3ysnINWM
- Jean-Michel AULAS (@JM_Aulas) October 15, 2021
The list of the 30 nominated:
Leonardo Bonucci (ITA / Juventus), N'Golo Kanté (FRA / Chelsea), Mason Mount (ANG / Chelsea), Erling Haaland (NOR / Dortmund), Riyad Mahrez (ALG / Manchester City), Kylian Mbappé (FRA / PSG) , Karim Benzema (FRA / Real Madrid), Harry Kane (ANG / Tottenham), Raheem Sterling (ANG / Manchester City), Nicolo Barella (ITA / Inter Milan), Gianluigi Donnarumma (ITA / AC Milan, PSG), Luka Modric ( COR / Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (ITA / Juventus), Pedri (ESP / Barcelona), Lionel Messi (ARG / Barcelona then PSG), Bruno Fernandes (POR / Manchester United), Neymar (BRE / PSG), Robert Lewandowski ( POL / Bayern Munich), Jorginho (ITA / Chelsea), Simon Kjaer (DAN / AC Milan), Kevin De Bruyne (BEL / Manchester City), Lautaro Martinez (ARG / Inter Milan), Ruben Dias (POR / Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (BEL / Inter Milan and Chelsea), Mohamed Salah (EGY / Liverpool), César Azpilicueta (ESP / Chelsea),Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Juventus then Manchester United), Gérard Moreno (ESP / Villareal), Phil Foden (ANG / Manchester City), Luis Suarez (URU / Atletico Madrid).