Benzema wins top French award
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been voted the best French footballer for 2012, winning the award for the second consecutive year, the Spanish club said on Tuesday.
Former France international Zinedine Zidane presented the 24-year-old with the trophy at Real's Bernabeu stadium.
"It is an honour to receive it from Zidane because for me he is the best French footballer ever," Benzema told the club website (www.realmadrid.com).
Benzema won the award, organised by France Football, ahead of Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in voting carried out by a panel of former winners, including Zidane.
The former Olympique Lyon striker scored 21 goals in La Liga last term, helping Real win the title, and seven in the Champions League where they fell to Bayern Munich in the semifinals.
He has struggled to find the same form this season and has netted only three times in the league, missing their 2-2 draw at home to Espanyol on Sunday with a foot problem.
