Ballon d’Or

FORMER Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed Karim Benzema should be the favourite for the Ballon d’Or, insisting he is ‘the best No9 on the planet’.Ferdinand, who was covering last night’s quarter-final tie between Chelsea and Real Madrid for BT Sport, was left in awe at the 34-year-old’s performance.
Benzema was far too good for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last nightCredit: Getty
He said: “He is phenomenal, he is impacting the game in so many different areas, not just goals, assists, link-up play and slowing the game down.
“That sounds like a playmaker, but that’s a No9 that has scored 37 goals.”
The France international was in sparkling form again last night, following up his hat-trick against PSG in the last round with another three goals at Stamford Bridge.
And while a shocking mistake from Edouard Mendy gifted his final goal, Benzema’s first-half brace was outstanding, with two very different but equally brilliant headers.
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The instinctive goals he provided at Stamford Bridge are just another arrow in the Frenchman’s bow, who has developed into Madrid’s most valuable asset since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ferdinand claimed: “He is the talisman, he is the leader now, and he has stepped out of the shadows of Cristiano Ronaldo.
“An absolute complete forward and it was a masterclass from him.”
Since 2008, only Luka Modric has once denied either Ronaldo or Lionel Messi from winning the Ballon d’Or, following his standout year for club and country in 2018.
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However, with both falling short of their best this campaign, the door is open for a new name on the trophy.
Last year’s runner up Robert Lewandowski has enjoyed another outstanding season with 45 goals in 39 games for Bayern Munich.
Elsewhere, Benzema’s international teammate Kylian Mbappe has recovered from a slow opening to the campaign to dazzle for PSG in 2022.
However, as Ferdinand says, 37 goals in 36 games, as well as single-handedly firing his side to runaway leader status in Spain and a potential Champions League semi-final make it difficult to look past Madrid’s No9. More

FRANCE FOOTBALL have announced FOUR key major changes for the voting process in future Ballon d’Ors.Lionel Messi controversially collected the coveted trophy back in November for the seventh time.
Lionel Messi controversially lifted the 2021 Ballon d’OrCredit: EPA
The Barcelona legend and now Paris Saint-Germain forward pipped Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea midfielder Jorginho to the award.
He received it after helping Barca to the Copa del Rey and Argentina to Copa America success.
France Football also introduced the Ballon d’Or Feminin back in 2018.
And the 2021 award went to Barcelona star Alexia Putellas.
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Both awards – as well as the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21 and the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper – are voted for captains, coaches and journalists.
The Ballon d’Or has been running since 1956 – but now organisers have decided to make some changes.
The changes will come into effect straight away starting with the 2022 accolade.
And here, as per France Football, are the alterations:
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A change from judging by years to by seasons: decisions will now be based on performances between the traditional season of August and July, rather than calendar years, which used to combine two half-campaigns.
A change in who puts together the shortlists: Ballon d’Or ambassador Didier Drogba and the journalists who came closer to getting the last year’s results right will be involved in choosing the shortlisted candidates, which runs to 30 for the main award and 20 for the young player and goalkeeper trophy.
A change in the number of people able to vote: last year saw representatives from 170 countries take part in the process, but from now on only the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings – and the top 50 for women’s football – will be able to vote.
A slight tweak to the criteria: as it’s an individual award, voters are being instructed to focus on the players’ individual performances over collective achievements, with fair play and setting a good example also counting towards the overall weighting.

It remains to be seen what the changes will mean and we are unlikely to see the difference until the process kicks into gear later this year. More

N’GOLO KANTE’S one of the best midfielders ever – even though he was overlooked for the prestigious Ballon d’Or, Joe Cole reckons.Kante finished fifth in the rankings for the golden accolade behind Blues team-mate Jorginho who attained third spot – behind the winner of the award for the seventh time Lionel Messi.
Kante’s one of the best midfielders ever in the eyes of Joe ColeCredit: Instagram
Cole reckons Kante’s overlooked because he’s not as flashy as some playersCredit: BT Sport
N’Golo Kante’s been the heart of the Blues team ever since he joinedCredit: Getty
But the Ballon d’Or result didn’t sit well with Blues legend Cole who claimed that Kante’s one of the best midfielders he’s ever seen in action.
According to Cole, Kante’s greatness is overlooked because fans of the game tend to focus on players who light up the pitch with their dazzling skills and fancy goals while the French ace pulls the strings quietly.
But Cole believes the 30-year-old’s impact on the teams he’s played for has been outstanding over the years.
The 30-year-old French ace was instrumental in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph last season despite being injured for a long period of the campaign.
Which is why Cole chose Kante over his Blues pal Jorginho when asked who his best Premier League player pick of 2021 was by bookmakers Coral.
Jorginho won the European Footballer of the Year award following an impressive season for the Blues, but Cole thinks Kante outshone his colleague when they played in similar roles.
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And although he missed out on the Ballon d’Or, Kante will be compensated with a hoard of trophies before he retires – including the World Cup, Cole thinks.
Speaking in his latest vlog with Coral, Cole explained: “I’m going to go with a Chelsea player, having won the Champions League, and say N’Golo Kante. He was overlooked for the Ballon d’Or.
“I’ve watched him week in, week out and his influence on the team is outstanding.
“He has missed large chunks of the season through injury and he has been missed. When he has played, he has been outstanding.
“The run up to the Champions League last season, from the quarter-finals onwards, six out of seven games, including the final, he was the Man of the Match.
“Our eyes are always drawn towards the goalscorers and the technicians, but the influence that man has on his teams, is incredible.
“He’ll finish his career with a bucket load of trophies, including the World Cup, and I think he’s probably one of the most outstanding midfielders ever seen. And he got overlooked for the player of the year awards.
“When we talk Jorginho, he won the European Footballer of the Year and obviously had a great season as well. But N’Golo Kante, I feel he actually outperformed him in similar positions.”
Cole’s not the only ex-Blue who thinks Kante’s underappreciated for the work he puts in.
Blues icon John Terry insisted that Kante should win the Ballon d’Or before the winner was chosen last November.
He said: “I’d love to go see him win the Ballon d’Or or get the appreciation that I feel he deserves.”
Terry even claimed that Kante was like a whole team rolled into one, adding: “Kante’s like 11 players on his own.
“What he does, he goes so under the radar. He is such a top-class player.” More