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Liverpool legend Pepe Reina has claimed that Real Madrid superstar Thibaut Courtois should have won the 2022 Ballon d’Or ahead of Karim Benzema.
Real Madrid were at their breathtaking best in the 2021-22 season, winning the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the Supercopa de Espana. The team’s skipper, Benzema led his troops by example, scoring a staggering 44 goals and claiming 15 assists in 46 games across competitions.
For his stellar displays, the Frenchman was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2022. He became him the oldest recipient (34 years and 10 months) of the award since the first-ever Ballon d'Or winner Sir Stanley Matthews in 1956 (41 years).
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However, Reina, who is one of the best goalkeepers of his era, does not agree with France Football’s decision to give Benzema the award. In a recent interview, Reina claimed that the accolade should have gone to Courtois, admitting it would have been nice to see a keeper win it.
Reina said (via Madrid Xtra):
“Ballon d’Or? I would have given it to Courtois. He is the best in the world in his position”
Courtois, who made a record nine saves in Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the 2021-22 Champions League final, came seventh in the 2022 Ballon d’Or race.
Dynamo Moscow legend Lev Yashin, who was crowned in 1963, remains the only goalkeeper in history to win the Ballon d’Or.
Cesc Fabregas backs Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior to be as unstoppable as Ronaldinho
Vinicius Junior has been one of Real Madrid's most consistent performers over the last few seasons. He has an abundance of pace, knows how to beat defenders in one-on-one situations, and is capable of scoring some excellent goals.
Former Barcelona and Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas has urged Vinicius Junior to keep his cool, claiming that he has the potential to be as good as Neymar and Ronaldinho.
“The Vinicius thing is a bit of everything. If he had been a winger, he would have tried to cover him as he could, even doing things that I don't do with others because this one is better. You have to try to get him out of the game because he is very good,” said Fabregas (via Cadena Ser).
“Of course, the player is to blame because he cannot get lost in this and leave. He is a very young boy, you also have to take that into account. If he controls this well, he can be unstoppable as Ronaldinho or Neymar was.”
Vinicius Junior has featured in 36 games for Real Madrid in all competitions this season, scoring 18 times and claiming nine assists.
