Karim Benzema, star of Real Madrid and the France national team, won the 2022 Ballon d’Or on Monday, October 17, with the novelty that the award contained a replica in Non-Fungible Token (NFT) format.
During the award ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France, Benzema received a small box containing the NFT replica, according to the official Twitter account of the awards.
Karim Benzema
The Ballon d’Or 2022 gala also awarded Non-Fungible Tokens to the best promising international soccer player, the best goalkeeper and the best striker respectively.
KARIM BENZEMA IS THE 2022 BALLON D’OR! ✨@Benzema@realmadrid#ballondor pic.twitter.com/TXLkHJIhJM
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 17, 2022
“Winning the Ballon d’Or was a dream I’ve had since I was a child.”
French soccer star Karim Benzema said that winning the Ballon d’Or was a dream he had since he was a child and, this year 2022, he was able to fulfill it.
“I am proud to have this Ballon d’Or right now. Thanks to all the Real Madrid players and fans because without them it would have been impossible to achieve this goal,” Benzema told the Spanish club’s press.
Benzema recalled that in his first four months as a Real Madrid player it was difficult for him to adapt due to his “inexperience and youth.”
“I always had this Ballon d’Or in my head and I am very happy to have it here today thanks to my work and effort.”
He pointed out that he feels an indescribable love for Real Madrid “that is difficult to count”.
Karim Benzema received the award from Juventus FC and Real Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane, who was the last Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Or 24 years ago.
The Ballon d’Or will have its own NFT collection
The French newspaper that organizes the Ballon d’Or award ceremony, L’Équipe, announced that it will launch on October 23 an NFT collection called “2022 Pyrite Fragments”, which will allow users to obtain a small portion of the trophy.
🎁Get @Sorare limited cards!
✨NFT collection 2022 Pyrite Fragments is in presale on October 23rd
More information on https://t.co/D4cB2SK7KL#ballondor #NFT pic.twitter.com/I3UAmnDxZS
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 19, 2022
Users who have registered on a whitelist for the collection will be the first to obtain the NFTs and will also be able to enjoy unique benefits.
Those who have not registered on the whitelist will have to wait two days to get their hands on one of the extracted fragments of the original trophy.
The collection roadmap will end on November 8, when a physical trophy will be auctioned at the French house Millon.
Two unique artistic NFTs created by Léo Caillard will be offered for sale, offering access to the next Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2023.
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