Sadio Mane support Karim Benzema to win Ballon d’Or award this year

Sadio Mane believes Karim Benzema will win the Ballon d’Or this year after a stellar season for Real Madrid… and the Bayern Munich star believes the French striker ‘easily deserves to win the award.

Sadio Mane backs Karim Benzema to win this year’s Ballon d’Or after his superb season for Real Madrid… with the Bayern Munich star claiming the French striker ‘easily deserves’ to clinch the award

Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane has claimed Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema ‘easily deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Mane and Benzema are among the nominees for the prestigious award, with the winner due to be announced at a glittering ceremony in Paris on October 17.

Senegal forward, who joined the German giants from Liverpool for £35m in the summer, was full of praise for the Frenchman when he was asked about the Ballon d’Or following Bayern’s thumping 5-0 win over Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.

Benzema enjoyed a stellar campaign for Real last season as he helped guide the Spanish club to the Champions League and LaLiga titles

‘Honestly, I think that Karim deserves it this year,’ Mane said.

He’s had a great, great season with Real Madrid. He’s won the Champions League… I think he easily deserves it, so I’m happy for him.

‘I know I won the African Cup of Nations, it was a relief for me and for the whole country, and I’m really happy to have won my first Afcon with my country. But I think it’s Karim who deserves it, and I honestly believe that.’

Mane and Benzema are joined on the shortlist for the award by the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski, Mohamed Salah, and Cristiano Ronaldo, although seven-time winner Lionel Messi has not been nominated.

Mane was speaking following Bayern Munich‘s Champions League victory on Tuesday night, in which he scored a superb goal that had Liverpool fans questioning his decision to leave Anfield.

Mane picked up the ball just outside Plzen’s area, lifted it over two defenders, hustled and bustled his way through a swarm of opponents on the edge of the box, and bent home into the corner of the net.