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Anthony Nlebem.
Ahead of the Ballon d’Or award slated for October 17 in Paris, Nigeria striker Terem Moffi has tipped Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema to clinch it following his brilliant performance last season.
The French striker is the big favourite to win the prestigious award after he led Real Madrid to LaLiga and Champions League double last season.
The 23-year-old Super Eagles striker who plays for French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient has joined the list of popular votes backing the Frenchman for the award.
“Everyone knows what kind of player Karim Benzema is. As a young striker, we watch what he does, the way he behaves on the pitch, and how he carries his team,” Moffi said, as reported by French media OuestFrance.fr.
“He is a very good player, and we are necessarily influenced by what he does. He has all the palette that a striker should have: he works in midfield, he knows how to keep the ball, dribble, make decisive passes, and of course score a lot of goals.
“For the Ballon d’Or, Benzema won everything, he scored a lot of goals. Sadio Mané was also very successful, scoring very important goals.
“My favourite choice would go for my ‘African brother’ Sadio Mane, but I think Benzema should win it, thanks to his performances with Real Madrid and the France team.”
According to a report published in L’Equipe, a public vote of 63.9 per cent of voters backed the Frenchman to win the prestigious award for the first time in his career.
Moffi also added that Benzema is his role model and every young striker wants to emulate him.
“He is a model, even if I also look at many other attackers like Erling Haaland, Olivier Giroud, Romelu Lukaku or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. If I was in the same team as him, of course, I would be a substitute. But it would be an honour, we would learn a lot of things by his side.
Benzema registered 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid in the 2021/22 season and averaged a direct goal contribution every 66.42 minutes.
In August, he became Real Madrid’s second-highest all-time goalscorer when he netted his 324th goal to surpass Raul.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has more, with 450 goals during his time with Los Blancos.
