After becoming the first Frenchman to win the award since Zinedine Zidane, here is what Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema said after claiming the 2022 Ballon d'Or in Paris on Monday night.
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On Monday, the 34-year-old became the oldest player since 1956 to win the prestigious individual accolade following a spectacular 2021/22 campaign with Los Blancos.
Accepting the award from Zidane, the previous Frenchman to be crowned the best player in the world, Benzema stated that his mentality change since entering his thirties helped him get where he is today.
"Winning this trophy was always in the back of my mind but what has changed since I turned 30 is ambition," he said, according to NDTV Sports.
"Ambition really entered my head after that. Ambition means working harder and being a leader for my team and I am lucky to play for Madrid, the best club in the world.
"When I was 21, or 22, I didn't have the same ambition I have today."
Benzema also returned to action for France in 2021 following a six-year banishing from the squad due to his alleged involvement in a blackmail scandal, winning the UEFA Nations League trophy with his teammates soon afterwards.
"I have been through difficult moments, where I wasn't playing for the national team and so was alone at Valdebebas (Real's training ground) because everyone else was away playing for their countries," he continued.
"I am very happy and very proud of the work I have put in."
The soon-to-be 35-year-old then insisted he still has goals that he has set out to achieve ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
"I am still ambitious. I would like to go to the World Cup with France," he said.
"There are things that are still left to be done. I hope to be in the squad for Qatar, to go to the World Cup and do everything to win it."
Benzema contributed to 59 goals in 46 appearances for Los Blancos last season as the Spanish giants won the LaLiga, the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Champions League titles.
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