Why does Karim Benzema play with a bandage on his hand? 

The French star recently lifted the 2022 Ballon d'Or award

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema won his maiden Ballon d'Or on Monday after a memorable 2021-22 season, as he scored 44 goals in 46 appearances and aided the team in winning the UEFA Champions League and La Liga.

The striker also netted in his 17 consecutive UEFA Champions League seasons, the joint-most. He has netted from the 2005-06 to 2021-22 season. This record is only equalled by Lionel Messi.

Benzema became the second French player to win the Ballon d'Or since Zidane in 1998 and the fifth overall on Monday, and to commemorate this achievement, Adidas turned Benzema's right-hand bandage into gold memorabilia. Adidas also announced new boots and a new special kit to celebrate Benzema's Ballon d'Or triumph.

But what's the backstory to that bandage on his right hand? Many fans believe it is due to superstitions, but it is actually related to an incident that ensued back in 2019 when the player was playing against Real Betis and fractured his little finger while attempting to break his fall when he made contact with Marc Batra.

The player was informed that he would require surgery, which would keep him out for two months. But the French international preferred to postpone the operation until the end of the season. Benzema had successful surgery but the Real Madrid striker tried to rush his recovery and damaged his little finger again, forcing him to wrap a bandage around his right hand permanently.

When asked why he did not have surgery after a UEFA Champions League group stage match, the player marvelled. “I did have an operation, but when you have surgery, you have to be out for two months. I've hurt [the finger] again, but I don't have time to stop and have another operation, so I wear the bandage when I'm playing."