Irresistible Karim Benzema. Decisive in the qualification of Real Madrid at the expense of Paris Saint-Germain last Wednesday in the round of 16 of the Champions League, the Real Madrid striker was once again decisive in the victory of the Meringue Monday March 14 in Mallorca (0-3). Author of a double (76th and 81st), Benzema erased Thierry Henry from the annals to become the best French scorer in history, in all competitions. La Liga’s top scorer is now at 413 goals. He also dispossessed Bernard Lacombe of his title of top tricolor scorer in history in the five major European championships (257 against 255).
“Yo juego para la gente que sabe y le gusta el fútbol.” pic.twitter.com/YTLZx0MM8H
— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) March 14, 2022
In exceptional form, the center forward of the France team scored his 31st and 32nd goals of the season (22 in La Liga, top scorer), all in 34 games. Benzema showed off all his class by starting his historic evening with an assist – his 11th of the season, again the best total in La Liga – for the inevitable Vinicius, his luxury right arm this season (55th). The player trained at Olympique Lyonnais then converted a penalty following a new spark from the Franco-Brazilian duo (76th): an acceleration from the Habs and a whistle obtained by “Vini”. Five minutes later, “KB9” scored his second goal of the evening with a header placed out of reach of Sergio Rico, Mallorcan goalkeeper on loan from PSG.
Efficiency, technique, game intelligence, Karim Benzema has once again shown in half time everything that makes him the greatest “goleador” in the history of French football. The 34-year-old came back up to Thierry Henry with his exceptional hat-trick against the Parisian club last Wednesday, which also offered him a place on the podium of the most prolific players in the history of Real Madrid.
In detail, Karim Benzema now has 311 goals with the Spanish club (in 593 games), 66 with OL, and 36 with the France team. And its place in the history books is probably still far from fixed. His 32 goals in all competitions equal his record for a season with the Madrid club, established ten years ago, in 2011-2012. His 11th pass in the league is also a record equaled, then established in 2012-2013, when we are only in mid-March. Simply monstrous.
[ RÉSUMÉ VIDÉO] #LaLiga
Real manages perfectly after PSG!
A 3-0 victory carried by Benzema, double scorer and decisive passer for Vinicius, before leaving with a calf injury.
Madrid take a 10-point lead!https://t.co/EodD9rVCdD— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) March 14, 2022
Karim Benzema is now just 12 goals behind legend Raul to become Real’s second-highest goalscorer in history, a fair distance behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s record. The mark of the Portuguese striker from Manchester United in the Champions League (140, against 79 for his former teammate) is also within reach. But Benzema can hope to return to Bayern Munich’s number nine, Robert Lewandowski, current third in this classification in C1 and very successful this season. Simply monstrous.
The only downside to this hitherto ideal evening, Karim Benzema was injured on his headed goal and had to give up his place, hit in the calf. Six days before the Clasico against FC Barcelona, his absence would be a blow to Carlo Ancelotti’s training. At least she will be able to console herself by having further increased her lead at the top of the Spanish championship (ten points over Sevilla FC, fifteen over Barça) thanks to her success on Saturday in the Balearic Islands. But also by rejoicing to have a very high-class player in its ranks to take it to the top.