Olympique Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has penned an open letter to Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

The former OL star won the Ballon d'Or last week in Paris.

Aulas paid tribute, writing: “Dear Karim, we are all so proud of you, of your journey from the OL academy to Real Madrid via the France team.

"This magnificent Ballon d'Or is a new stage in your life, the consecration of all your work, of all your self-sacrifice, but also a beginning where nothing will be like before. Here you are, a football legend, here you are, a model for generations, strong in your entire history, in a deep bond of friendship between Algeria and France, in your exemplarity and in all the lessons you have learnt.

"We have always believed in you, we have always accompanied you with our thoughts, because we knew that this day would come, that you would be Ballon d'Or. I now like to think that one day it will be your turn to write a letter to a Ballon d'Or. A young person that you will have followed, inspired, or who knows, trained in an academy like that of Olympique Lyonnais. He may already be there, he may have already seen you receive this award and he knows deep down that he wants to become like you.

"This Ballon d'Or is that of the people, but it is also that of all those who give themselves the means to achieve their dream and who, sometimes, only need an inspiration to gain confidence in themselves.

"You made us love football, you will make us love it even more."