Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin 12:16 a.m., October 18, 2022

By winning his first Ballon d'Or, Karim Benzema marked the history of football in France.

But behind this prize also hides long-term work, from a very young age.

Exceptional guest of Europe 1 Sport, Bernard Lacombe, the one who detected the young player during his adolescence, spoke of his relationship with the kid from Bron revealed to Olympique Lyonnais. 

If there is a club to which Karim Benzema owes a lot, it is Olympique Lyonnais.

The winner of the Ballon d'Or 2022 cut his teeth there for many years.

And it was above all at OL that the talented striker revealed himself. 

It is on the lawn of Gerland that the young Karim asserts himself.

"He had something more", testifies Bernard Lacombe, the one who detected the French international at the microphone of the Europe 1 Sport broadcast.

It is also the latter who worked to recruit the player in the training center of OL.

A good feeling.

"When I saw him on the pitch, the quality, the sequences, what he could do, it was magnificent," recalls the former manager of the Rhone club.

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Humility in the skin

And the striker of the France team has forgotten none of this.

Just after receiving his prize, Karim Benzema hastened to thank "the Lyon family", the one to whom he owes so much. 

Bernard Lacombe also salutes the "wisdom" and "humility" of the star of the Blues.

Discreet, silent about his personal life, the Ballon d'Or 2022 has humility in his skin.

A quality that has allowed him to become a great player. 

Another distinguished guest in Europe 1 Sport, Jean-Pierre Papin praised the sporting but also personal qualities of the current Real Madrid player.

"I'm not surprised at all compared to the player he has become today, compared to the season he had last year. He carried Real Madrid, especially in the Champions League. He deserves it," said the former Ballon d'Or in 1991.

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“It will remain etched in his memory for a long time”

At 34, Karim Benzema therefore wins the biggest individual trophy in football.

"He must be very proud, very happy. He is at the end of his career so in addition he has it at a time when it will remain in his memory for a long time", assured Jean-Pierre Papin. 

And for good reason, the latter remembers a “very special moment” that he will never forget.

"It's so inaccessible that the day we have it, we don't immediately measure what it is. It's with time that we manage to make sense of things", certified the former Blues player.

A reward for Karim Benzema who is at the peak of his career.

Enough to fill up with confidence a month before the start of the World Cup in Qatar (November 20 to December 18).

The striker will also evolve with the one who could be his worthy heir, Kylian Mbappé.

A fiery attack that can once again take the French team to the top of the world.