Former Ghana international, Michael Essien, has congratulated former team mate, Karim Benzema, after the latter was awarded the 2022 Ballon d’Or on Monday, October 17.
Michael Essien, tweeting with an accompanying photo of himself and the Real Madrid star during warm-up session during Essien’s loan stint with Madrid, said “You deserve the Ballon d’Or.”
The award that Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain earned last year was generally predicted to go to Karim Benzema.
A few months after the Los Blancos won their 14th Champions League championship in the French capital, Benzema was presented with the 2022 Ballon d’Or during a ceremony that took place in Paris.
A Marca report stated that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who is Benzema’s most loyal supporter, was there to witness the moment. The two men met 14 years ago in Benzema’s living room in Lyon.
Real Madrid players have received the Ballon d’Or twelve times in total, matching Barcelona’s record. The source added that past recipients of the honor from Los Blancos were Alfredo Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa, Luis Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, Fabio Cannavaro, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luka Modric.
Tu merite le @francefootball, Felicitation Mon @karimbenzema ???? pic.twitter.com/mZU564Auwa
— Michael Essien® (@MichaelEssien) October 17, 2022
