Real Madrid have been one of the most impressive sides this season, with a host of big names such as Ronaldo and Bale leading the way. However, in recent weeks Benzema has stood out for his exploits on both ends of the pitch.
The “real madrid news” is a recent article that discusses the connection between Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. in Real Madrid’s brilliant season, as well as Karim’s Ballon d’Or claim.
I genuinely hope that when Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema eventually wins his first Ballon d’Or in 2022, his first words are… “I have to thank Vinicius Jose Paixao de Oliveira Junior.”
Benzema is now playing the most beautiful football of any player in any major league, and he has been since the start of the 2021-22 season. It’s not just about the barrage of goals he’s scored in the most productive few months of his career. It’s not only that he’s given further tungsten-tough unbeatability to Real Madrid’s capability to be the all-time, comeback “don’t write us off” champions of European football owing to a streak of incredible, commendable, and surprising goals.
It’s his technical abilities, decision-making, mobility, passing, bravery, inventiveness, self-confidence, heading, shooting, split-second responses, and impishness that the Ballon d’Or was created to honor.
In the best sense of the phrase, Benzema makes football beautiful. Watching him makes the senses soar, much like great art, opera, and film. But anybody who doesn’t see the link between his collaboration with Vinicius and the Frenchman’s ascent to a level of footballing that exceeds anything he’s done in his already illustrious career hasn’t been paying attention — or doesn’t understand football.
– Marcotti: Real Madrid’s tenacity is propelling them to the LaLiga championship. – O’Hanlon: Benzema’s LaLiga Replacement for Ronaldo and Messi (E+)
Please tell me you saw Real Madrid come back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 against Sevilla on Sunday (you can watch the replay on ESPN+ in the United States). Despite the fact that the math does not yet support this assertion, the win ensured Madrid’s title as LaLiga champions. It was also a performance to remind Manchester City that, despite beginning as favorites in next week’s Champions League semifinal, Pep Guardiola’s English champions have been pitted against a cast of characters who couldn’t locate the term “surrender” in a dictionary, even if arrows pointed to it.
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Madrid’s comeback was capped off with a goal that was flawless in both invention and execution, showcasing the 21-year-old Brazilian winger and the 34-year-old French champion at their finest. If you haven’t watched it yet, go back and watch the pivotal fifth goal: Vinicius sprints into a small space where there appeared to be no room for his body, let alone for invention and anarchy, then conjures up a scooped, back-heel style pass to Rodrygo on the run, a cut-back from the youngster before Benzema measured up his angles and clipped home the winner, leaving a number of Sevilla men sprawled, drooling, and wailing.
Although the debate around Benzema’s excellence and the necessity for him to win this historic award is focused on the superior character of his performance and his relationship with Vinicius rather than pure statistics, there’s no denying the two players are putting up incredible numbers.
When Benzema scored the winning goal against Sevilla and “clinched” his fourth Spanish crown, he came within six goals of surpassing Raul Gonzalez Blanco, Madrid’s all-time second-highest scorer. If the Frenchman continues to score at his present pace, he will complete the milestone and score his 324th goal for Los Blancos 150 games faster than the Spanish great. That’s just insane.
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Benzema agrees with me that the beauty of his play is important, regardless of how enticing the statistics may seem.
“Too many fans nowadays don’t bother to look at what a player performs in a match, simply at who scored,” he recently claimed. The next day, the headlines proclaim, “He’s the Best!” That’s exactly what happened to me: I had a poor game, but I scored, and I was eulogized. That’s not my brand of football, and it’s not how I see things.
“When I play, I make an effort to be respectful. I don’t say to myself, “Woah, maybe I can score instead…” when I see a teammate in a better position. I just give the ball to him so that he may take advantage of the simpler opportunity. I make an effort to make things better for people around me.”
Vinicius is one of them.
“People remember what I said about him [at Monchengladbach], but he’s no longer the player he once was. Inquire of him! It was evident that he had so much more to offer: with a few words and a few gestures on the pitch, I demonstrated crucial aspects of playing in the last 30 meters of the field. Now he knows what to do when it comes to firing, crossing, and elevating his head to view the image in front of him. He’s finally doing what he’s been meaning to do for a long time. Vini is young, but highly capable; nothing more has to be said to him at this point.”
In an interview with UEFA, Vinicius backed up the story: “[Karim] is a wonderful guy who has always backed me up and given me confidence. But it’s primarily about his pitching advice. It’s a dream come true to be able to play alongside someone I’d only seen in video games before! His level of excellence is astounding. I’ve never played alongside a striker of his level before: he’s not like the others.”
So, for the time being, Vinicius and Real Madrid must credit Benzema for educating the 21-year-old, whose brain can now keep up with his scorching speed. I’d love to hear Benzema say, “Thanks Kid, I owe you,” when he lifts the Ballon d’Or in December.
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