Five Matches That Sealed Karim Benzema's Fate As Ballon d'Or 2022 Winner

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[{"selector":"#anim-dbaa639b-72a4-4082-a359-c3518ddefb61 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.051725591340592%, -13.951525495491584%) scale(0.6711409395973155)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ead0b9bf-f595-4b64-85ad-dc6ad7b9a91b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-063e989f-dd1e-4c14-a64b-300a2c5e5c61","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 437.30207%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff908dd7-5b44-4aaf-b913-5b5fe5af2300","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fa905db-11ec-4c27-86fc-a3f8e3eff567","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 176.28522%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da51ae65-fb09-457d-a81b-18ee20ce4cde","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a398249-449e-4425-bcb3-71c6b0d8b7fe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19199.87640%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credits: Real Madrid/Twitter It's just a matter of hours before Karim Benzema becomes the first French striker, after Zinedine Zidane, to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award. Benzema has had his career-best season in 2021/22, scoring 52 goals across all competitions.

[{"selector":"#anim-ee67a6c4-c89f-447f-9b38-2910efc2462d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-0.605278346714381%, -12.076523250969132%) scale(0.7058823529411764)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ea9265b-0ea6-4843-b34c-0509e02e0373","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c80e6b9f-976f-4021-97c5-8455f20253d0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 508.73058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc6c4ae4-7c3d-43e0-ba3c-a5e1c30628fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e51cca3-8d51-4cd8-902e-cff7ec9946dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 169.42068%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcbdf467-b8f5-4409-9469-ee17d4fc520c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-605d245c-6565-446e-b6bf-ee9d90a0cd7b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19199.87640%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credits: Real Madrid/Twitter Let's take a look at five crucial matches where Benzema single-handedly made a difference for Real Madrid, and by doing so, he strengthened his credential to win Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career.

[{"selector":"#anim-7b210670-129c-4d8c-9398-dba6f7931d43 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d809d06d-57ae-4b77-980c-859f459a903d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ae68373-9500-44ec-9e48-1624de4230b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 487.30229%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d7d5611-6f74-4cb0-9f7c-be7a294e7052","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d886a5ee-9209-4f6a-adfd-69e26fc2af59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.59184%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c09a70fc-5669-49a1-9faf-b3c08b4549e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11d5fd41-282e-489e-8307-34a67bba9ecc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19199.87640%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credits: IReal Madrid/Twitter Real Madrid vs PSG, Champions League Real Madrid came into the fixture with a goal deficit, and conceded an early goal to Kylian Mbappe to go 2-0 down on aggregate. When all seemed over for Madrid, Benzema produced a second-half hat-trick to dump PSG out of European Cup.

[{"selector":"#anim-28f78219-a443-4991-a6a6-9dc71c424fa6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-0.4702189281562828%, -7.754990739842228%) scale(0.8316498316498316)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9320495-3f57-42fb-8a63-d184b94a8f11","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d4ef976-bcb7-4bd8-892a-d56a0084b243","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 508.73058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a4df9c6-7cf0-448c-bb2e-b6ea4f110f82","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c55672e2-185c-47db-9573-82053e6c0bfb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 146.22916%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59e7a73e-8e9f-44f0-af77-c7271b265068","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3bdffae2-19a7-4265-9fb9-2f6d08dc5c31","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19199.87640%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credits: Real Madrid/Twitter Real Madrid vs Chelsea, Champions League Karim Benzema scored his second successive hat-trick in the Champions League to put Real Madrid 3-1 up against Chelsea in the first-leg of the quarter-finals. The Galacticos lost the second leg but still advanced to the next round on aggregate.

[{"selector":"#anim-9f1d3c43-4ee6-4f78-a5b7-336d47096bb7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6c1448a-c843-4bff-981c-49edf2cb19d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed4db0df-1a67-4d50-80fc-e4daa72052cb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 508.73058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f7d8615-5866-44bd-bad1-b215e00bc56f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d64f4ff9-af3d-428a-b320-76c5323528f5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.22220%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-256e5fd7-976b-422f-95a9-bac1db206b7c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1cc0a4c-7d11-4b51-918b-6178ceca6700","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19199.87640%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credits: Real Madrid/Twitter Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao, Super Cup Final Real Madrid swept the first trophy of the season with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Super Cup final. Benzema once again stepped up to the occasion, scoring a crucial goal to double Madrid's lead.

[{"selector":"#anim-475fc405-10b2-46a3-b589-b63bed7274ad [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df97451f-059f-4eb4-9ae6-cc22e69639e4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f4e08ac-5542-4550-9f63-f608e99a574a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 508.73058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be5f257d-a0d5-413d-abb9-ab795911ca15","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aae6c3c7-b8af-4806-b1f9-16859f99f2d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 146.33122%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d2c66d9-727b-4ecb-9182-1b9fa48bbf6e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c01c4afe-deec-4b1b-9f5b-df6710f8c056","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19199.87640%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credits: FrenchTeam/Twitter France vs Spain, UEFA Nations League France was trailing 1-0 against Spain in the final of the UEFA Nations League. Karim Benzema fired an equaliser before Kylian Mbappe scored a winner in the last moments of the game. Benzema was also adjudged the 'Player of the Match' for his performance.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d0cf35d-4093-48b4-800c-e8bd5c3bb675 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.2759808257026286%, -9.374999922436578%) scale(0.7692307692307693)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa679afe-4be5-41a9-9632-ab0a3efee441","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3298d207-94c1-4f52-bc0f-be1d37cd954f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 487.30229%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1500,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1afc7640-e445-4d3d-9545-7f6ea92730c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69c3de39-5b08-4cf7-9ee4-1c11a09fec90","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.90714%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84dec9aa-ae6e-4fa5-b335-9c302350acd6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd78103c-f248-45a6-b1ae-e1b5326bbe17","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19199.87640%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Credits: Real Madrid/Twitter Real Madrid vs Sevilla, La Liga After a dramatic capitulation against Barcelona, Real Madrid needed to win the next few games to keep the gap wide open. Benzema's late winner helped Madrid beat Sevilla 3-2 and take a giant stride towards the domestic title.

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