Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been named the Champions League player of the season following a stellar 2020-2021 campaign where he finished as top scorer, UEFA said on Tuesday.
France international Benzema, 34, won the league for the fifth time when Real beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final, after scoring 15 goals in 12 games, including hat-tricks against Paris St Germain and Chelsea in the knockout stages .
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Benzema’s teammate Vinicius Junior, who scored the only goal in the final in Paris, was named Young Player of the Tournament season.
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PremiumThe UEFA Technical Observer panel has named Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema as the UEFA Champions League player of the 2021/22 season@Benzema , #UCL
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 31 May 2022
The duo were also named in the Team of the Season alongside Real midfielder Luka Modric and goalkeeper Thibout Courtois, who played a key role in the showdown at Stade de France.
Runners-up Liverpool were represented by defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, as well as midfielder Fabinho.
PSG striker Kylian Mbappe, Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne completed the line-up.
Team of the season:
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Andy Robertson (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Fabinho (Liverpool), Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)