Since the return of Karim Benzema in Blue, before the last Euro, Noël Le Graët praises the Real Madrid striker, interview after interview.

But the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) does not go so far as to claim that KB (1) 9 deserved the Ballon d'Or 2021, concluded in a disappointing fourth place far behind the seven-time winner Lionel Messi.

"I think Benzema deserved the podium," Le Graët assured AFP on Tuesday.

Messi is unmatched, even if it's more the track record [which made the difference] than the last 12 months which are not, I believe, the best of his career.

Benzema who finds himself fourth, it is not the best place but it proves his qualities.

"

Asked also about the "sextape affair", for which the Madrid center forward was sentenced in the first instance to one year suspended prison sentence and a 75,000 euros fine (a sentence which he announced to appeal) , the leader was moved that she "drags on for too long".

“It's been six years, frankly.

It comes back to a time when we were perhaps a little in difficulty, after the elimination [at the Euro].

Justice must render its decision, but it is still not the business of the century.

Bringing Benzema back over and over in this business is very complicated, he does not deserve it.

"

His response to Valbuena

Le Graët suffered strong criticism from the victim, Mathieu Valbuena, who criticized him for never having called him.

“Maybe he lost my number,” the former international had joked, nicknamed the boss of the FFF “Mr. Phantom”.

“I was rather upset… He is a victim, but has not been charged.

I like him, as a player.

He is a boy who gave a lot.

It was perhaps a bad reflex on my part not to have called him, but we never considered him guilty, ”reacted Le Graët.

“Defending Benzema a little bit, maybe he suffered from it and I didn't quite understand it.

But that doesn't change the esteem I have for him, ”he concluded.

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  • Mathieu valbuena

  • Karim Benzema

  • Golden Ball

  • Noël le Graët

  • FFF

  • Soccer

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