Involved in 59 goals for Real Madrid in a historic season - winner of the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Supercup -, Karim Benzema is the great favorite to lift the Ballon d'Or this Monday in Paris. The Merengues striker finished top scorer in the Spanish league (27 goals) and top scorer in Europe's biggest competition (15 goals). In addition, with his national team, Benzema won the Nations League in the final against Spain.
An exceptional season. The Frenchman has made performances that have marked the minds, especially in Europe where he was crucial against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City. Returning on five of the moments that marked his season 2021-2022.
His curled effort in the Nations League final against Spain
While Luis Enrique' side opened the scoring in the 64th minute, Karim Benzema got his team back on track with an equaliser two minutes later: a curling right-footed shot into the top corner of Unai Simon's net. A masterpiece! France would be crowned champion of the Nations League for the first time in its history.
His hat-trick against PSG at the Santiago Bernabeu
The first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 is the second leg. Real Madrid trailed Paris Saint-Germain by two goals at half-time and were two goals down on aggregate. Karim Benzema's three goals in the first 20 minutes of the second leg put paid to Paris' hopes of a place in the last 16.
His hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Once PSG were eliminated as favourites for the competition, nothing could stop Karim Benzema. The Frenchman, well supported by his teammates that night at Stamford Bridge, scored a hat-trick of sumptuous goals that will go down in history.
His Panenka against Manchester City
Important rule in Europe: never leave Real Madrid alive when you have the chance to kill them. Real Madrid is 4-2 down after being in the game for more than 80 minutes. The scoreline seems miraculous for Madrid and unfair to Guardiola's players given their top-class performance. Los Merengues were awarded a penalty on 82nd and Benzema took it.
In the collective memories of madridismo we find Zidane's goal against Leverkusen, Mijatovic against Juventus, Sergio Ramos against Atletico or Bale against Liverpool. Add to this Benzema's Panenka against City, celebrated as a victory by the Real Madrid players at the time when 90 minutes were to be played the following week.
The penalty that sent Real Madrid into the final
In the second half, Karim Benzema's second goal of the game was the only one that sent his team through to the final. After setting up Rodrygo for Real Madrid's first goal, the Frenchman scored the third from the penalty spot. The Madrid club reached the Champions League final again four years later.
