Karim Benzema is ‘without a doubt my candidate for the Ballon d’Or,’ says Ronaldo

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.

Ronaldo (pictured) believes that Benzema deserves the prize as he is ‘the best striker’

‘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.

Lionel Messi (centre) is the favourite to win the gong after Argentina’s Copa America victory

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.’

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti also endorsed Benzema for the Ballon d’Or last month