Benzema thanks his fans after taking the fourth place “I play for you”.

Trusted Ballon d’Or candidate this year, Karim Benzema finished fourth, behind Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho. The French Real Madrid striker, who was absent from the party in Paris on Monday evening, thanked his support through social media.

His fans were hoping he’d be a little better, too, no doubt, but the “performance” remains honorable. In fourth place in the Ballon d’Or 2021 behind Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho, Karim Benzema came close on Monday evening to the most prestigious individual award he had not done since the beginning of his career.

21st in 2012, 16th in 2014, 20th in 2015, 25th in 2017, 17th in 2018, and 26th in 2019, often with a low score, the 33-year-old Real Madrid forward fought back this time for the win, or at least for the podium. , as evidenced by the 239 points collected.

Small treatment for voters?

The Heart of the Blues striker, who started his campaign in October, did not go to the Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris) for the big party. But he did not fail to greet his followers on social networks. “Thank you to everyone who has supported me, I play football for you, and the show continues,” he wrote in the evening.

On Instagram, the ex-Lionelli conveyed messages of congratulations / encouragement from Real Madrid and his teammates Andre Lunin or Vinicius Jr., but also a quote saying “I play for people who know football”. A little message to voters whose choices can’t always be understood? Only he knows it.

To console himself, “KB9” can tell himself that he finished French better, ahead of N’Golo Kanté (fifth) and Kylian Mbappe (9), but also ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (sixth), who sometimes stole the show in real. You often vote.