Karim Benzema’s terrific header against Chelsea wins UEFA’s Champions League Goal of the Tournament

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Karim Benzema’s terrific header against Chelsea wins UEFA’s Champions League Goal of the Tournament – as Real Madrid striker beats team-mate Vinicius Jr and PSG star Kylian Mbappe to the award

  • Karim Benzema scored a pinpoint header against Chelsea back in April 
  • The Real Madrid No 9 met the ball to perfection from Vinicius Jr’s cross
  • The goal has beaten Vinicius’ solo effort against Shakhtar Donetsk to top spot
  • Kylian Mbappe’s late winner vs Madrid in the last-16 completes the top three  

By Kieran Jackson For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Real Madrid marksman Karim Benzema has won UEFA’s Champions League Goal of the Tournament award for his brilliant header against Chelsea. 

The Madrid No 9, who won his fifth European Cup with victory against Liverpool in Paris on Saturday, won the player of the tournament award after his terrific record of 15 goals in 12 matches. 

Now, with the top 10 goals of the competition being selected by UEFA’s technical observer panel, Benzema’s header against Chelsea in the quarter-final first-leg at Stamford Bridge has pipped Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe to No 1. 

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema has won UEFA’s Champions League Goal of the Tournament

The Frenchman won the prize for his first headed goal in the quarter-final win against Chelsea

The Frenchman won the prize for his first headed goal in the quarter-final win against Chelsea

The Frenchman met the ball with perfection from Vinicius’ cross, heading firmly and accurately beyond Blues keeper Edouard Mendy – the first of three goals in a 3-1 first-leg victory.

Vinicius’ mesmeric solo effort against Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage was voted the second-best goal, while Kylian Mbappe’s late winner versus Madrid in the last-16 first leg completed the top three. 

Also on the shortlist was Robert Lewandowski’s goal against Dynamo Kyiv, Alex Telles’ volley versus Villarreal and Lionel Messi’s strike against Manchester City. 

Thiago Alcantara’s scintillating long-range effort against Porto for Liverpool was 10th on the list. 

Benzema celebrates scoring his first headed goal on a night where he notched a hat-trick

Benzema celebrates scoring his first headed goal on a night where he notched a hat-trick 

Benzema was also named Player of the Tournament after an impressive 15 goals in 12 games

Benzema was also named Player of the Tournament after an impressive 15 goals in 12 games 

Benzema’s header set him on his way to another European hat-trick, having scored three goals against PSG to turn the last-16 tie on its head at the Bernabeu. 

He also scored twice in the first-leg of the semi-final against Manchester City, as well as converting the match-winning penalty in the second-leg.  

Fans can still vote for their favourite goal out of the 10 listed on the UEFA website. 

UEFA’S GOALS OF THE TOURNAMENT 

1 Karim Benzema (Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid) – Quarter-final first leg, 06/04/2022

2 Vinícius Junior (Shakhtar Donetsk 0-5 Real Madrid) – Group stage, 19/10/2021

3 Kylian Mbappe (Paris 1-0 Real Madrid) – Round of 16 first leg, 15/02/2022

4 Robert Lewandowski (Dynamo Kyiv 1-2 Bayern) – Group stage, 23/11/2021

5 Marco Asensio (Real Madrid 2-0 Inter) – Group stage, 07/12/2021

6 Alex Telles (Manchester United 2-1 Villarreal) – Group stage, 29/09/2021

7 Sébastien Thill (Real Madrid 1-2 Sheriff) – Group stage, 28/09/2021

8 Rodrygo (Real Madrid 2-3 Chelsea) – Quarter-final second leg, 12/04/2022

9 Lionel Messi (Paris 2-0 Manchester City) – Group stage, 28/09/2021

10 Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool 2-0 Porto) – Group stage, 24/11/2021