Benzema Named UCL Player Of The Season

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid has been awarded the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season for the 2021/22 season by UEFA’s Technical Observer panel.

The French striker was a talismanic figure for Real Madrid, leading them to a record 14th European title, his fifth since joining from Lyon in 2009.

Not only did Benzema score double figures in the Champions League for the first time in his career, but his ultimate tally of 15 put him in first place in the competition’s scoring charts.

Remarkably, a joint-record ten of those goals came in the knockout stage, beginning with a decisive late hat-trick against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.

He then added a treble away to Chelsea before burying the extra-time winner to knock out the holders in Spain.

He then scored three goals against Manchester City in the semi-finals, including the extra-time penalty that capped a stunning comeback.

Benzema, who did not add to his tally in the final, is now tied for third all-time in European Cup goals with Robert Lewandowski. Last month, his coach Carlo Ancelotti remarked, “He gets better every day, like wine.” “Every day, he improves as a leader and realizes how essential he is to the team and the club. We consider ourselves really fortunate to have him.”