Ballon d’Or, Benzema’s response to France Football’s invitation

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By: Nicolas Gerbault

Ballon d'Or, Benzema's response to France Football's invitation

Although he had been invited, the trophy holder will not be present at the Ballon d’Or award ceremony.

This Monday, at the Châtelet theater in Paris, the 2023 Ballon d’Or trophy will be presented. Barring a huge surprise, Lionel Messi should be crowned for the 8e times in his career. And what is certain is that the Argentinian will not receive the trophy from the hands of previous winner Karim Benzema.

Benzema does like Messi

While he is the title holder and is also one of the nominees, the former French international chose not to attend the ceremony. However, he did receive an invitation from France Football. A decision which is, however, half surprising.

In view of recent events, with the attacks he has suffered from the political sphere, Benzema has certainly seen fit not to go to Paris. The former Real player has been living a peaceful life in Saudi Arabia since last summer. What’s the point of coming out of your cocoon and risking untimely media exposure?

This is not the first time that a Ballon d’Or winner has snubbed the ceremony the following year. This has happened many times before. Cristiano Ronaldo had notably acted in this way, as had Lionel Messi. Angry at not even being one of the nominees, La Pulga did not go to the Chatelet theater last year when he was there in Paris since he was still playing at PSG. The last winner to have shown elegance by coming to attend the coronation of his successor was Luka Modric in 2019.

Nicolas Gerbault

Written by:

Nicolas Gerbault

Nicolas Gerbault is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Nicolas discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Nicolas enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.