Karim Benzema credited a controversial disallowed goal with shifting the momentum in Real Madrid's 1-0 Champions League final victory over Liverpool, extending the club's record 14th European Cup title. The French forward's first-half strike was ruled out following a lengthy VAR review, but the decision reportedly galvanized the team.
Real Madrid capitalized on the renewed energy to take the lead in the 59th minute when Vinicius Jr. converted Federico Valverde's cross. Benzema, who finished the campaign as the tournament's top scorer with 15 goals, acknowledged the psychological impact of the contentious call.
"A final is always complicated. We weren't in rhythm, but the offside goal got us into the game," Benzema said. "In the second half, we did as always and won a final." The 34-year-old became only the second French player to captain a Champions League-winning team, following Didier Deschamps' 1993 Marseille side.
Benzema's pivotal performances throughout the tournament, including a hat-trick against Chelsea and a penalty in the semifinals against Manchester City, have positioned him as a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or. However, he emphasized his focus on enjoying the moment over individual accolades.
"Let's see what happens. I have trophies and nothing else to prove on the pitch. The important thing is to enjoy," he said. His potential historic achievement would make him the first Frenchman to win the Ballon d'Or since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.
