How Benzema Becomes First Ballon d’Or Winner To Miss World Cup

Fact check, no Ballon d’Or winner has missed the World Cup tournament since 1982, however, Benzema will become the first to break the long-keeping record.

The French forward has reportedly pulled out of the World Cup that started yesterday after he sustained injury.

Every Ballon d’Or winner has played in the World Cup since 1982, which makes Benzema’s absence that much more painful, Daily Independent reports.

At the 1982 World Cup, Rummenigge participated as the holder of the individ­ual award.

At Mexico ‘86 World Cup, Mitchel Platini of France attended as Ballon d’Or holder. At Italia ‘90, Marco Van Basten of The Netherlands was the hold­er of the award and played at the tournament. At the 1994 edition of the global tournament in the United States, Italy’s Roberto Bag­gio attended the World Cup as Ballon d’Or holder, while in 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, it was English­man, Michael Owen who followed the Red Devil’s as the holder of the presti­gious award.

At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Brazilian star, Ronaldinho, was the star of the tournament even though his country didn’t win it. He was the cynosure of all eyes as he was the Ballon d’Or winner. At the 2010 edition in South Africa, Lionel Mes­si was the Ballon d’Or hold­er and participated with Ar­gentina. At the 2014 and 2018 editions in Brazil and Rus­sia respectively, Portuguese and Manchester United star, Cristiano Ronaldo, partici­pated with his country as Ballon d’Or winners.

So Benzema will sorely be missed as he is set to be a spectator at the competi­tion that would have likely marked his last internation­al outing for his country.

Read Also: Top 5 Tech Firms Engaging In Massive Layoffs In 2022

Meanwhile, Olivier Gi­roud will likely step up to take his place in the French starting line up.

This will be the third FIFA World Cup that Benze­ma will miss in his career as confirmed by the French national team.

Benzema, 34, withdrew from the team’s training session on Saturday at the Jassim bin Hammad Stadi­um and was already ruled out of France’s inaugural match against Australia on Tuesday.

Olivier Giroud is just three goals away from passing Thierry Henry as France’s top goalscorer in history.

France will also be with­out the injured N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.

Anthony Martial will be called up to join the main squad, filling the vacant spot left behind by Benzema.

Les Bleus form part of Group D alongside Austra­lia, Denmark and Tunisia.