Manchester City midfielder, Ilkay Gundogan, believes Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema deserves this year’s Ballon d’ Or.

The Germany international said this ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final first-leg tie with Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

Recall that Benzema finished in the fourth position in the race for the Ballon d’ Or last year.

The France international was behind Jorginho, Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi.

“Right now, for me, [Karim] Benzema is, along with [Robert] Lewandowski, the best striker in the world.

“He is good with both feet, good in the air…I think he was underrated in the past and now he is proving his critics were wrong,” Gundogan told RT1 (via Eurosport).

He added, “For a long time, he [Benzema] was in Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow, especially in the press, but now he’s getting the attention and credit he deserves.”

“His achievements speak for themselves. Benzema has everything it takes to win the Ballon d’Or.”

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