Karim Benzema became the fifth French player to get the golden ball, after he was crowned for the first time in his career, on Monday, during the ceremony held in the French capital, Paris.
The Real Madrid attacker triumphed against Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane, and Kevin de Bruyne to take home the prize.
Before the legendary Michel Platini won it for three straight seasons in “1983, 1984, and 1985,” Raymond Cuba was the first French player to get the award given by “France Football” magazine in 1958.
In 1991, Jean-Pierre Baban was successful in giving France the golden ball for a fifth time.
The 1998 World Cup star Zinedine Zidane was the last French to receive the award in the same year, to wait for French football 24 years until Benzema came and won the ancient prize..
Benzema gives the French the Golden Ball back after 24 years.
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