There’s a new twist to the familiar tale about the colossal fees that top notch international football stars receive, and this one is about the whopping price one of them paid for a football!

When sports website TMZ first broke the news that Real Madrid’s French international Karim Benzema had paid $ 250,000 for a football, it sounded difficult to believe. But, the site clarified, this was no ordinary soccer ball meant to be kicked around the field.

Benzema had indeed paid $ 250,000, but this was for a ‘precious’ football encrusted with 72,000 diamonds weighing a total of 1,250 carats. The piece was reportedly crafted by celebrity jewellers Dave Bling and Will Da Boss of DWS Jewerly and Co.

Bling was reported to have said that the star wanted a show piece for his new home and the diamond encrusted lifesize football would be "a definite conversation starter when company arrives".

Pic Caption: Photo of the diamond encrusted football put out by the jeweller