Benzema’s legacy is ever larger. There can have been few clearer winners

Striker became the first Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or since Zinedine Zidane after inspiring Real Madrid to European glory

STELLAR SEASON: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema poses for a picture prior the 66th Ballon d'Or ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Luka Modric knew, but then so did everyone else. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and Real Madrid had just defeated Barcelona in another clásico – Rodrygo had scored, Fede Valverde had scored and Karim Benzema had scored of course – and the Croatian was standing at the side of the pitch, where his teammates were celebrating their return to the top of the table. 

“We all know what’s going to happen and we all want it to happen and we’re very happy for Karim,” he said. “We hope that tomorrow he will win the Ballon d’Or.”