Karim Benzema is 'without a doubt my candidate for the Ballon d'Or,' says Ronaldo as Real Madrid legend picks France star over Lionel Messi for gong Karim Benzema is among the 30 candidates to win the Ballon d'Or this year The 33-year-old has enjoyed an impressive spell for Real Madrid and France Lionel Messi is the favourite to win the prize after Argentina's Copa America win By Luke Augustus for MailOnline Published: 15:27 BST, 15 October 2021 | Updated: 15:31 BST, 15 October 2021 Viewcomments Real Madrid star Karim Benzema should be crowned with the Ballon d'Or this season, believes club legend Ronaldo. Benzema is among the 30 candidates for this year's prestigious award alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - who have won the gong 11 times between them. And while Messi led Argentina to the Copa America this summer, making him the favourite, Ronaldo is adamant that Real's No 9 should get the prize ahead of him. Karim Benzema has been backed to win the Ballon d'Or by Real Madrid legend Ronaldo 'Without a doubt, my candidate for the Ballon d'Or is Benzema,' he wrote on Facebook. 'The best striker, brutal level for 10 years and champion above all. Don't you think?' Alongside Messi and Benzema, Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is among the frontrunners for the prize as is Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski. Benzema's form this year saw him earn a recall to the France squad, playing at Euro 2020, and he has carried that on this season for Real. The 33-year-old has scored 10 goals in as many appearances for the Spanish giants and his manager Carlo Ancelotti is really pleased with his form. Speaking last month when the striker had eight goals and seven assists, Ancelotti said: 'For what he's doing and for what he's done, he has to be in the list of possible winners. 'Saying that, Karim's got time to win it. I somehow doubt this is his final season - he's like a fine wine; the older he gets the better he is.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility