Real Madrid captain, Karim Benzema, has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo has not congratulated him since he won the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
Benzema won the award for the first time last month, becoming only the second player aside from Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to do so since 2018.
Ronaldo meanwhile finished in 20th after a hit-and-miss year with Manchester United.
Speaking to French outlet Telefoot, Benzema was asked if he had been in contact with ex-Real Madrid team-mate Ronaldo since winning the award. He responded: “No, not yet.” Relations between the pair are unclear although there are suggestions they are no longer the pals they once were at the Bernabeu.
The pair formed part of Real’s stunning attack that helped the club win four Champions League in five seasons, before the Portuguese left for Juventus in 2018. Benzema credited Ronaldo’s exit with helping him win the Ballon d’Or after stepping out of the shadow of his former teammate.
The France striker said: “It was an honour to play with him. The day he left, the ambition to be a better player then entered my head. Since he left, I’ve been motivated to do more things on the pitch.”
The pair were close during their time together in Spain and last year, Jose Mourinho claimed Ronaldo was ‘in love’ with Benzema during his time as Real boss.
