2023-06-13 10:41:35
Thus, the Golden Ball awarded by the French newspaper “France Football” “flew” from the continent of Europe.
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golden ball (web)
It is the golden ball that all stars seek to crown, and they give everything they have to get it in their hands. Now it is outside of continental Europe. This is the case with the stars who are still in the stadiums, and who have been crowned with it since 2008, with the exception of the Croatian star Luka Modric, who was crowned with it in 2018, and who can also “fly” it outside Europe.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The beginning was with the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, when he surprised everyone and joined the Saudi club Al-Nasr. Ronaldo carried 5 golden balls with him, and went with them to the continent of Asia. CR7 won the Golden Ball in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Ronaldo no longer wants to be crowned with more Golden Balls or to continue to compete with Argentine star Lionel Messi for the rank of the most historically crowned player. The “Don” was satisfied with what he reaped, and it is not a little, as the 5 golden balls tell a lot, in addition to the many and many times in second or third place, as well as the major titles that he won with the clubs in which he played in its ranks and in the European Cup with Portugal (on Although he has not retired internationally).
Ronaldo has become 37 years old, and he has become aware that he is from the old generation, and that a new generation will compete with its new stars, such as the Norwegian Erling Haaland and the French Kylian Mbappe, for the crowning of the Golden Ball.
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Ronaldo .. and 5 golden balls (archive)
Karim Benzema
After Ronaldo, it was the turn of French star Karim Benzema, the Spanish Real Madrid player, and the former Portuguese colleague in this team, a few weeks ago.
Benzema too, and like Ronaldo, surprised everyone by joining the Saudi Al-Ittihad club, and perhaps more than him, as the French star might have played at least an additional year at the highest competitive level with Real Madrid, and this was proven last season, despite his repeated injuries, but he realized It is time for a new experience before retiring.
Like Ronaldo, Benzema carried the Ballon d’Or, which he won in 2022, and “flew” it to the continent of Asia. Perhaps it can be said that the Golden Ball itself played a major role in Benzema’s travel to Saudi Arabia. As this star reached his dream of winning it, despite all the difficulties, in addition to all the titles that he won with Real Madrid, the most important of which was the Champions League 5 times. Thus, he has had enough and does not want more.
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Benzema won the Golden Ball in 2022 (web)
Lionel Messi
Then, it was the turn of the “king” of the Golden Ball and the most crowned one in history, Lionel Messi, to decide to leave the European continent and head towards the stadiums of the United States; To the ranks of the Inter Miami team.
Also, Messi’s decision, similar to Ronaldo and Benzema, was surprising, or to say more than them, as this star was a candidate to return to his former team, Barcelona, Spain, and he might still provide more creativity at the highest levels in European football, despite his 35 years. And he led the Argentine national team months ago to crown the 2022 World Cup.
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Messi .. and 7 golden balls (Web)
Also, Messi was satisfied with crowning him with all possible titles from the World Cup in particular (although he did not retire with the Argentine national team, and perhaps he will play the World Cup 2026), the European Champions League, the Spanish and French leagues, the Club World Cup, and many, many other titles and achievements, and he will go to experience new and far.
Thus, Messi carried 7 golden balls (he was crowned in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021), and took them from Europe to the North American continent.
Luka Modric?
Only Modric, who was crowned with the Golden Ball in 2018 in Europe in Madrid, remains among the players who are still in the stadiums and have not retired, and who have won the award since 2008, but many press reports also talk regarding offers from Saudi clubs for the Croatian star to play in their ranks, If not next season, then the next season.
Thus, Europe “lost” 13 Golden Balls (the prize was not awarded in 2020) by leaving its stars to different continents, as if a page was being turned for the Golden Ball, to open a new page with new champions.
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