FRENCHMAN Karim Benzema has claimed that it may be impossible for him to reach Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal tally.
Across nine memorable years in Madrid, Ronaldo registered a quite remarkable haul of 450 goals in 438 appearances across all competitions – helping the Blancos to two La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns.
Benzema has scored 425 career goals; 323 for Real Madrid, 66 for Lyon, and 36 for France, which makes him the highest French goalscorer in history, surpassing Thierry Henry’s total of 411.
The Frenchman was named UEFA Player of the Year for 2021/22 after leading Los Blancos to LaLiga Santander and Champions League glory last season.
The Frenchman also stressed that he didn’t change his game following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid back in 2018.
“Cristiano helped me a lot,” Benzema noted.
“With him, I had another role and when he left, I knew I could take a step forward in scoring goals, but still playing football.
“What has changed since then is my goal tally, but I’m still playing the way I think you have to play this game. The figures mean I’m not far behind the Real Madrid legends, and that gives me confidence, even though I know that reaching Cristiano’s goal [figures] is impossible.
“That’s why I focus on what I can do on the pitch to help the team win. Numbers are not the most important thing. I don’t play thinking only about titles or goals.
“I play because I love football, although I do have dreams, of course, like winning the World Cup or a Ballon d’Or.”
“Now at 34 I’m better, I play better,” Benzema told European Sports Media (ESM).
“It’s true that on a personal level this was the best season of my career, but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed: I go to the pitch thinking about what I have to do to win the game, I think about the team, not myself.”
Benzema went on to admit that last season’s Champions League trophy was the sweetest that he has won in his career due to the way Real Madrid turned their knockout ties around.
“Although every title has its own history and is different, it is clear that this Champions League was the most difficult of the five I have won, and for me, it was also the most beautiful because of the comebacks and because we never gave up,” Benzema added.