Karim Benzema responds to Lionel Messi after "no doubts" Ballon d'Or declaration

Karim Benzema has revealed his delight at Lionel Messi backing him to win this year's Ballon d'Or.

The Frenchman, 34, is the favourite for the prestigious award after scoring 44 goals for Real Madrid this season - helping them win La Liga, the Supercopa de Espana and Champions League. Other candidates include Sadio Mane, Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah.

Messi is the most recent Ballon d'Or recipient - winning a record seventh crown last year - and believes there are "no doubts" about Benzema receiving the honour. Luka Modric is the only man other than Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the prize since 2007.

"I heard the words from Messi and they made me very happy, very content that they come from a player like him," said Benzema on Friday evening when asked about Messi's comments. "They give me motivation to do more things."

Speaking about the Ballon d'Or last month, Messi said: "I think there are no doubts, it is very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up consecrating himself with the Champions League, being essential from the last 16 onwards in all the games."

The Ballon d'Or is usually awarded for the best footballer during the calendar year, but this year's award will be based on the 2021-22 campaign. As such, the honour will be handed out in October and will not take performances at the World Cup into consideration.

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The award has been presented by magazine France Football since its inception in 1956. "Before we were judging based on two half seasons - this will be clearer," said the magazine's editor Pascal Ferre on the restructure. "It's an opportunity to give it a new impetus."

Messi isn't the only famous footballer to back Benzema to win the Ballon d'Or. "I just wanted to say something to France or whoever is voting [on the Ballon d'Or]," said Arsenal legend Thierry Henry last month. "Close the votes, Benzema won it. Bye."

Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, called Benzema "magic" in April and said he'd be surprised if the organisers aren't "engraving his name" on the Ballon d'Or already. Speaking in May, he added: "The argument is over with the Ballon d'Or. If Benzema doesn't get it it's a travesty."

When asked if he'd like to receive the Ballon d'Or in May, Benzema said: "Of course. Now I will join up with the national team but I don't think I can do much more with my club. We will see what happens, but in any case I am proud of what I have done."

He added: "Let's see what happens. I have trophies and I have nothing else [to prove] on the pitch. The important thing is to enjoy it."

The last Frenchman to win the Ballon d'Or was Zinedine Zidane in 1998. The other French winners are Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985) and Jean-Pierre Papin (1991).