Tax havens and footballers are often the story of a certain technical complicity. Scandals of evasion, even tax evasion affecting the stars of the king sport are legion. Karim Benzema has never been involved in this type of optimization scheme. The new Ballon d’Or, with a long-controversial reputation in France, pays its taxes where it was born.
The Mediapart investigation site revealed it in 2016, at a time when he was excluded from the national team. Where some of his Real Madrid teammates had been singled out for the management of their image rights, like Cristiano Ronaldo, the Frenchman chose to domicile his company BOB (Best of Benzema) in Lyon ( Rhone). Even though he could have, completely legally, an ultra-favorable status in Spain. The Madrid native owns 90% of the company, his father and mother respectively 5%.
“You have to pay taxes. They ask me to pay taxes, I pay them, that’s all. After that it’s not a feat. I see they talked about it everywhere. I focus on football. I pay my taxes. Quiet”, had simply commented on KB9 after a Champions League match.
“People are proud of me today, that’s why I said it’s also their Ballon d’Or”
Monday evening, on the stage of the Théâtre du Châtelet, obviously did not address this question. The native of Bron was, is and will undoubtedly always remain a discreet and secretive man. Facing the world elite, and Zinedine Zidane, it was about football, passion, personal sacrifices. One expression still caught my attention. What did the former glory of OL mean when he spoke of a “People’s Ballon d’Or”?
“Nothing political,” he said later in a press conference. It’s just a reference to where I come from, to all my fans who supported me every moment, even in difficult times. I want to share this trophy with them because I like sharing and they deserve it. »
Asked about the congratulatory tweet published by Emmanuel Macron, he also played the card of sobriety. “Thank you to the president, it is a pleasure. Me, when I play football, I do not enter the field to please so and so. I want to do my best and provide emotions. If I succeed, so much the better, it will give me strength. People are proud of me today, that’s why I said it’s also their Ballon d’Or. »