Bayern Munich star, Sadio Mane, has admitted Karim Benzema deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or ahead of him despite being among the main contenders for the award.
Meanwhile, a leaked screenshot which made its way online revealed the Real Madrid sharpshooter as the eventual winner of the foremost prize in football.
This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place at the Theatre du Chatelet, Paris on Monday, October 17.
Mane, who ended his six-year spell with Liverpool by switching to Bayern Munich this summer, is among the top candidates shortlisted for football’s most cherished individual prize.
The 30-year-old Senegal international had an impressive campaign in the year under review, including annexing the African Footballer of the Year award on top of helping his nation win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which has proved elusive for many years.
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With just under two weeks left for the awards ceremony, Mane – who scored his first Champions League goal for Bayern against Plzen on Tuesday – backed the Madrid captain to win the diadem.
“Karim Benzema deserves the Ballon d’Or. I’m happy for him,” Mane said as quoted by Daily Mail.
“He obviously won the Champions League and La Liga last season and was influential. I think he deserves it.”
Viral screenshot reveals Benzema as the winner of 2022 Ballon d’Or winner.
