Speaking to L’Équipe following last night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, former manager Zinédine Zidane has said that he believes the winner, Karim Benzema, is the best striker ever to play for France. 

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“The best striker in the history of French football? Everyone has their favourite player. Some people will tell you it’s Jean-Pierre Papin with his exceptional goals, others will talk about Michel Platini… For me, it’s Karim, yes, because I’ve been around him and I know what he’s worth. In any case, he deserves to be very high. I wish him to continue for a long time to go for records and to shine on the field, with Real Madrid and with the French team. He is capable of going even higher.”

Fourteen years after Zinédine Zidane’s win, France once again has a Ballon d’Or winner. Karim Benzema has been handed his just reward for a season which has seen the Real Madrid man perform head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, playing an instrumental role in Champions League and La Liga wins.