AFP, Istanbul :
For Karim Benzema, the UEFA men’s player of the year prize is unlikely to be the last recognition he receives for his role in Real Madrid’s memorable run to Champions League glory last season.
The Ballon d’Or will surely follow in October, before he heads to the World Cup in Qatar with France in November and December with the aim of completing a truly remarkable career renaissance.
It is not long ago that Benzema, who will turn 35 the day after the World Cup final in December, was a pariah, frozen out of the France team for five and a half years because of his involvement in a blackmail scandal over a sextape involving his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
