The coronation of Karim Benzema at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday made the rounds of the world press.
The Madrid native won the Ballon d'Or, the most prestigious individual award in football, at the age of 34.
Unsurprisingly, it was France Football, which has organized the Ballon d'Or since 1956, which got the ball rolling by unveiling the cover of its special issue as soon as the prize was awarded: "un si BO rêve", he says. , playing between the consonance of the consecrated abbreviation for the reward and the adjective "beautiful".
The front page of @francefootball:🤍 pic.twitter.com/NXz52tmUiu
— Real Madrid #BenzedOr 🌕 (@RMadridFrance_) October 17, 2022
L'Équipe followed in the footsteps of the weekly with its front page.
The reference sports daily in France explains that the "Ball [is] at home".
For its part, the regional newspaper "Le Progrès" believes that the child of Bron, located in the agglomeration of Lyon, has now entered "legend".
"The ball at home"
The front page of L'Equipe newspaper for this Tuesday, October 18 #ballonDor pic.twitter.com/KmKYPhQSkO
– THE TEAM (@lequipe) October 17, 2022
Le Républicain lorrain is the only other regional daily with Le Courier Picard to place Benzema on its front page, to underline the "planetary consecration" of "KB9".
At the party in Spain
In Spain, where he has been playing since 2009, Karim Benzema's victory made the front page of sports newspapers.
As, the pro-Real Madrid daily, recalls that he waited faithfully in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo before stepping into the spotlight.
The Spanish newspaper says: "He was seen as Ronaldo's partner for years. But now it's his turn to shine".
👑Fue su pareja de baile Durante años, pero ahora le toca brillar a él
🏆From Cristiano to Benzema, from Balón de Oro to Balón de Oro#BalonDeOro #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/s8ngA4bDm5
— Diario AS (@diarioas) October 17, 2022
The pro-Barça newspapers logically make him share the front page with Barcelona's Alexia Putellas, who has retained her crown.
'Justified and golden', say Marca, while Mundo deportivo speak of 'pure gold'.
#LaPortada 🗞 De justicia y oro
👑 Karim Benzema y Alexia Putellas, in the cima del fútbol pic.twitter.com/FTjApEEfee
— MARCA (@marca) October 17, 2022
In Italy, England or Germany, the newspapers did not go so far as to devote their coverage to Karim Benzema.
On the other hand, the editorial staff of the Daily Mail speaks of a "deserved reward given the form shown by the 34-year-old player" while the Gazzetta dello Sport and Bild respectively salute "the triumph of Karim" and the "new king of the soccer".
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