Over the past 17 years, the Ballon d’Or award has rarely been shared, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating the award.
However, the most recent Ballon d’Or winner is Rodri, while Karim Benzema and Luka Modric picked up the final gong. Messi AND Ronaldo duopoly.
However, one recent winner is considering retirement now that his next venture is already planned.
Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is considering hanging up his boots
According to the Spanish outlet Relief, Karim Benzema is considering retiring at the end of the 2024/25 season. The report says he is increasingly tired of training in the evenings in Saudi Arabia because the sun is not shining as brightly, and is also mentally tired from just playing in the Middle East.
Benzema, 36, has his contract with Al-Ittihad expire in 2026. As a result, the Saudi giants expect the Frenchman to retire from football in 18 months, but there is a high probability that this will happen much earlier than expected.
Benzema moved to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023, after 14 years with Al-Ittihad Real Madridwhere he scored five Champions Leaguefour La Liga titles and three Copa del Reys – not to mention the 2022 Ballon d’Or after a dominant season in the Spanish capital.
But although he would have given up a reported €100 million in Saudi Arabia by retiring a year earlier, Benzema would have been able to join Los Blancos. Indeed, he has already signed a contract to join Real Madrid as an ambassador when he finally hangs up his boots, which could be much sooner than initially expected.
This role would see him represent the club in the Arab region of the world, helping to further raise Real Madrid’s profile. His 354 goals in 648 games would certainly make it happen.
IN FourFourTwoHe said it seemed likely that Benzema could retire at the end of the current campaign. Having already signed a contract to return to Real Madrid, he may simply prefer to live in Spain and want the process to be quicker.
Either way, Al-Ittihad is by no means struggling, and his 10 goals and three assists in 10 Saudi Pro League games have proven his worth this season.
