Former teammates at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo are now rivals in Saudi Arabia. While rumours of friction persist between the two Ballon d’Or winners, the French striker has given his frank opinion on the debate over the greatest footballer of all time.
Real Madrid has had some of the greatest football players in history. From Di Stéfano to Zinédine Zidane and Roberto Carlos, the club has seen legendary players who were regarded as the best of their eras. More recently, names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema have propelled the Madrid club to the pinnacle of European and world football, winning numerous titles. Nowadays, these stars have aged, and some, including KB9 and CR7, continue playing football far from Spain. Having moved to Saudi Arabia to cash in and lead their respective clubs, the two Madrid legends are now engaged in an unprecedented rivalry.
Cristiano is not the most complete player, according to KB9
While Benzema and his Al-Ittihad side chase another Saudi Pro League title this season, Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, is striving to secure a spot in next season’s Asian competitions. In addition to this ambition, the Al Nassr captain is determined to keep scoring goals in pursuit of the mythical 1,000-goal milestone—an achievement that would be unprecedented in modern football. Recently, the 40-year-old Portuguese forward declared himself the greatest footballer of all time, citing his exceptional skill set.
While this statement has sparked considerable debate and reactions from all corners, the majority of Madridistas believe that Cristiano Ronaldo has done enough to be regarded as the GOAT. However, over the weekend, Karim Benzema, speaking to the Brazilian channel TNT Sports after his Saudi Pro League match against Al Hilal, expressed a very different opinion from most Madrid fans. When asked about the topic, the former Lyon striker made it clear that he does not see his former Real Madrid teammate as the most complete player and, therefore, not the greatest of all time.
In a subtle yet firm manner, Karim Benzema identified another former Real Madrid striker as more complete and, therefore, superior to Cristiano Ronaldo. “What do I think about Cristiano Ronaldo saying he is the greatest footballer of all time, the most complete? I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If he thinks he is the greatest in history, then that’s what he believes,” KB9 initially stated before revealing his own choice. “There are many great players. For me, for example, it’s the Brazilian Ronaldo (R9), but well, Cristiano is Cristiano!”
A statement that raises many questions
After expressing his preference for Ronaldo Nazário—who achieved great things in football but falls short of Cristiano in terms of trophies, goals, and global fame—Benzema softened his stance in conclusion. “I don’t like making comparisons between players. I believe everyone has their own story, and he (Cristiano) also has a very beautiful one,” he told TNT Sports. His remarks, however, clearly do not align with CR7’s views.
Given the tense relationship between the two former Madrid stars, Benzema’s latest comments have sparked widespread debate. On online forums, many have labelled the 37-year-old French striker as bitter and envious of his former teammate, who undeniably overshadowed him during their time together at Real Madrid. In any case, as he said, it is a matter of personal choice. Given R9’s legendary status and the magic he displayed in his prime, one cannot blame Karim Benzema for expressing his honest opinion.
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