After a player asserts that his votes changed after they were made public, the Ballon d'Or award has become the subject of a scandal. Juvenal Edjogo, captain of the Equatorial Guinea national team and played for Levante, Alaves, and Tenerife, was eligible to vote for the 2013 award. Contrary to official voting forms that stated he had chosen both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the 43-year-old is insistent that he had both Didier Drogba and Andres Iniesta in his top three.

Brazilian icon Ronaldinho says that Lionel Messi is a strong bet to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or award in 2023. The Argentine was finally able to achieve his long-standing dream of winning the World Cup by lifting the title in 2022. Argentina were able to overcome France on penalties in the Qatar World Cup. Lionel Messi played a crucial role in this success after coming up with goals at the World Cup. Even though France striker Kylian Mbappe was able to come up with a remarkable hat-trick and pick up the Golden Boot award, it is very unlikely that the striker from a losing team will be granted the FIFA Ballon d’Or award.

Karim Benzema scored an astonishing 44 goals in 46 games for Real last season, including 27 in LaLiga as he ended the campaign as the top scorer in Spain's top flight by a distance Istanbul: For Karim Benzema, the UEFA men’s player of the year prize is unlikely to be the last recognition he receives for his role in Real Madrid’s memorable run to Champions League glory last season.

The Ballon d’Or will surely follow in October, before he heads to the World Cup in Qatar with France in November and December with the aim of completing a truly remarkable career Renaissance. It is not long ago that Benzema, who will turn 35 the day after the World Cup final in December, was a pariah, frozen out of the France team for five and a half years because of his involvement in a blackmail scandal over a sextape involving his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

Cristiano Ronaldo may have missed out on the Ballon d’Or this year, but he’s still going strong in the English Premier League.

The attacker, who many believe is one of the best soccer players ever, will grace the World Cup this season, his fifth appearance at the finals. He’ll likely play, joining Rafael Marquez, Lothar Matthaus and Antonio Carbajal as someone who has been picked for, and played in, five World Cup tournaments.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema scored his first pre-season this summer during the friendly clash with Mexican side Club America. The 2022 FIFA Ballond'orfavourite scored one of the goals for his team in a 2-2 draw with Club America.It was the first game of pre-season for Benzema.

Frenchman Benzema was absent for the first pre-seasongame of the summer for Real Madrid. He was a major absentee as Real Madrid were beaten 1-0 by arch rivals Barcelonawhen the two teams at the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada in the United States (US).