Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or on Monday, the award which recognises the world’s best player. This article was first published before the Champions League final in May.

“When Karim Benzema started playing Champions League games for Lyon, his number was 44.

“Once, he came back to our room after a game. He was 18 and he said, ‘They’re making me play with this number, I can’t play with 44’. I said, ‘Bro, you’re playing Champions League, what are you talking about?’. He said, ‘I want to play with the No 9’. So he started giving me his No 44 shirt after games because he was determined to be a No 9. That was his favourite number.”