Real Madrid News
Three Real Madrid superstars feature in L’Equipe’s Team of the Year for 2022
As we get set to enter into the final week of 2022, French publication L’Equipe have announced their Team of the Year. And as many as three current Real Madrid superstars have made it to the lineup.
2022 was a largely successful year for Los Blancos as they started off with the Spanish Super Cup before getting their hands on the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League. At the start of the current season, Carlo Ancelotti & co. also won the UEFA Super Cup.
In terms of individual accolades, Karim Benzema won his first-ever Ballon d’Or award earlier this year while Thibaut Courtois was awarded the Yashin Trophy for the Best Goalkeeper.
So, it should not come as a surprise that both Benzema and Courtois find a place in L’Equipe’s Team of the Year for 2022.
The third Real Madrid player to make it to the team is midfield mainstay Luka Modric, who continues to age like fine wine. Despite turning 37, the veteran superstar remains a pivotal cog in Ancelotti’s side and played a huge role in the success that the team saw this year.
On top of that, Modric also led the Croatian national team to the semi-finals and a third-place finish at the FIFA World Cup 2022, winning the Bronze Ball in the process.
Meanwhile, Modric’s former midfield partner, Casemiro, who was also integral to last season’s trophy haul at Real Madrid also finds a place in the Team of the Year for 2022. The Brazilian left the club this past summer to sign for Manchester United, where he has again become a key player.
As for the rest of the team, Kyle Walker of Manchester City is selected at right-back while Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and RB Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol, a target for Real Madrid, are the centre-backs. Ex-Real Madrid man Theo Hernandez, who won the Serie A title with AC Milan gets the nod at left-back.
Modric and Casemiro make up the central midfield and are partnered by Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne, who has had another flawless year, along with World Cup winner Lionel Messi, who also won the Golden Ball at the tournament.
Up top, it is Benzema with fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, who won the Golden Boot at the World Cup, scoring a magnificent hat-trick in the final.
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
