Zinedine Zidane had said that Karim Benzema is, in his opinion, the best striker in the history of French football.
Benzema has established himself as one of the best footballers in the world in recent years. The Frenchman was sensational for Real Madrid last season, scoring 44 goals in all competitions and sealing the La Liga and Champions League titles.
His performance for Real Madrid last season also earned him the 2022 Ballon d’Or title. The 34-year-old was named the Ballon d’Or winner on Monday this week.
And Zidane, who has managed Benzema at Real Madrid, has showered his compatriot with praise. The former Real Madrid said that Benzema is, in his opinion, the best striker France has ever seen.
Zinedine Zidane lavishes praise on Karim Benzema
“The best striker in the history of French football? I don’t like to say ‘he’s the best’, everyone has their favorite player. Some will tell you that it is Jean-Pierre Papin with his exceptional goals, others will talk about Michel Platini… For me it is Karim, yes, because I worked with him and I know what he is worth”, said Zidane.
“In any case, he deserves to be very high. I wish him a long time going for records and shining on the pitch, with Real Madrid and with the French national team. He is able to go even higher.”
For his part, Benzema has been playing for Real Madrid since he signed for the Spanish team in the summer of 2009.
Since then, the French international has appeared in 615 games for the Spanish national team. He has also amassed 328 goals for the La Liga giants.
Benzema has played 10 games for Real Madrid so far in the 22/23 season. He too has amassed five goals in those appearances. He scored four of those in LaLiga and the other in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Benzema’s last goal for Real Madrid came in El Clásico. Real Madrid hosted Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu in their last game in La Liga and secured a 3-1 win.
Benzema put Real Madrid ahead in the match, breaking the tie in the 12th minute of the match. The Frenchman scored from a rebound after Marc-Andre Ter Stegen denied Vinicius Jr.
Meanwhile, the result saw Real Madrid regain their place at the top of the La Liga points table. The Spanish team has 25 points from nine games in the Spanish top flight this season.
