Karim Benzema is crossed by a dream which took shape this Monday, October 17 in Paris. He becomes the 66th Ballon d’Or, the 5th for France after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin and Zinedine Zidane, who presented him with his prize. It was at 9:55 p.m. and about thirty minutes later, the Madrid striker appeared on the top floor of the Châtelet theater, in front of a gathering of international media, to comment on his coronation at a press conference.
Is it a Ballon d’Or that rewards your season or your career?
KARIM BENZEMA. A bit of both. There is the last season but also my whole career.
What did you mean by “People’s Golden Ball”? Is this a political message?
There is nothing political. It’s in relation to where I come from, in relation to all my fans, who pushed me every time, who supported me in all the moments, including the most difficult. I want to share this trophy with them, I like sharing. For a long time, from Lyon, they have been motivating me, pushing me. I’m happy, they too.
What did you change to become Ballon d’Or?
I’ve always had this trophy in my head and what has changed is my ambition, at 30. She got into my head. I then worked a lot more. I wanted to be a leader for my team. I also have the chance to play for Real Madrid, the biggest team in the world. I went through complicated stages. When I was no longer in selection, it was the most complicated moment but Zizou (Zinedine Zidane, his coach at the time) gave me a lot of confidence and today, I am proud of my work and my journey.
What would you say today to Karim Benzema as a child who dreamed of the Ballon d’Or?
I would tell him to play football, to pursue his dreams, like the World Cup and the Champions League, the biggest trophies. Play, go forward. Football is the most important thing in my life for me. But it’s as if it were a child’s job. You have to play and not think about anything other than football.
You had three dreams: to give your mother a house, to play for Real Madrid and to win the Ballon d’Or. You have done them all. What do you have left to hope for?
It’s done, I kept the promises to my mother. I still have ambition, like winning the World Cup. It’s a goal, I have confidence in myself. I want to go to the World Cup and do everything to win it.
You are the second oldest player to win the Ballon d’Or. Do you think you can win a second one?
I’m not like that, I enjoy the present moment. But if I can win it a second time, well, great. But for now, I’m enjoying it, even if I don’t want to rest on my laurels. I have to go back to accomplish great things with my comrades.
What does Florentino Perez, the president of Real, represent in this success?
Real are the best club in the world, but you have to be good to win in this team. He came to my house, to my father and my mother to recruit me. It makes me very proud and he always told me that I will win the Ballon d’Or.
Emmanuel Macron congratulated you. Do you think you enter a little more in the hearts of the French?
Thank you to the President, already, it is a pleasure. Me, when I play football, I don’t tell myself that you have to please so-and-so or so-and-so. It’s a show, I enter the lawn to play. I know people are proud for me. It is also their Golden Ball, I repeat.
How long do you see yourself still playing football?
I do not know. When I get up in the morning and it will be hard to go to training, I think I will stop. There I get up and enjoy training. I already have one and you have to go home, easy. And continue to be good on the pitch.