Yohann Tritz, edited by Laura Laplaud 2:19 p.m., October 17, 2022

France team striker Karim Benzema is favorite to win the ultimate award for footballers: the Ballon d'Or 2022. Response this Monday evening at the Châtelet theater in Paris, to follow from 8 p.m. in Europe 1 Sport.

But in the meantime, Europe 1 was able to meet those who spotted the nugget from an early age.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony is approaching.

Two tricolor football players will perhaps win it.

Karim Benzema on one side, ultra-favorite for the men's trophy, Wendie Renard for the women's trophy.

The ceremony which takes place this Monday evening at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris can be followed from 8 p.m. in Europe 1 Sport.

Karim Benzema may be the fifth Frenchman crowned Ballon d'Or.

How do you become such a football star?

Europe 1 was able to speak to those who spotted the nugget from an early age, when he was still only a teenager in the Lyon region.

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"A Rocket Has Gone"

Karim Benzema was only 15 when Armand Garrido, trainer of Olympique Lyonnais, discovered him with a mixed first impression: "I was left a little unsatisfied because I thought there was a lot of talent, but that the investment was not yet up to what we could expect to be able to play at the national level. “The one who will become his mentor then meets a shy but hardworking boy.

"Often, it was me who came home more tired than him. It took a few months of adaptation for him to be able to take the step above and integrate properly. But afterwards, once it has was done, it went very quickly. A rocket went off, "he continues at the microphone of Europe 1.

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A meteoric progression to the point of attracting the attention of Bernard Lacombe, the club's sports advisor at that time.

"Armand tells me 'come and see me, there is a player, you'll see'. That's where I saw Karim for the first time. He did things that morning... It seemed like he drew the ball," he recalls.

Karim Benzema then joined the professional group at 17 to leave four years later for the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League five times and soon, perhaps, a Ballon d'Or.