In a Saudi Pro League clash that had the flavour of a reunion, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo reaffirmed their legendary status. Al Ittihad may have won the match, but the friendship and respect between the two former Merengues stars was the hallmark of the evening. The French striker spoke after the match.
The clash between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr on Friday evening was much more than just a Saudi league match. For Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, it was a reunion after nine years together writing Real Madrid history. Under the white shirt, they have pulled off one feat after another and won trophies. Above all, they formed one of the most formidable attacking duos of their era.
The two men may be rivals today, but that has not prevented their talents from shining through. Karim Benzema put in a remarkable performance to open the scoring for Al Ittihad. But Cristiano Ronaldo, as usual, responded with a goal for Al-Nassr. Cr7 proved once again that he remains an unstoppable force despite the years.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema reunited. 🥲🤍 pic.twitter.com/1bILbQiziq
— TC (@totalcristiano) December 6, 2024
‘It’s good to see Cristiano’
Interviewed at the end of the match, Karim Benzema expressed all the respect he has for his former team-mate and friend Cristiano Ronaldo. In comments relayed by Fabrizio Romano, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner said what he and Cr7 had said to each other before the match.
‘It’s great to see Cristiano. We’ve come a long way together: nine years at Real Madrid, goals, trophies… We wished each other good luck for the future with our clubs and to continue to make a difference,’ explained the former France international. Although destiny may now pit them against each other, Benzema and Ronaldo continue to uphold the values that marked their careers at Real Madrid: elegance, competition and brotherhood.
🗣️Karim Benzema (après match) :
— SPL 🇸🇦 (@ActuSPL) December 6, 2024
« C'est agréable de voir Cristiano Ronaldo. On a passé 9 ans ensemble au Real Madrid, beaucoup de buts et de titres et on fait toujours la différence. » 💛
(@IttiMania) pic.twitter.com/sI5DFerFMC
Benzema and Ronaldo, a deteriorating relationship?
Although they were the best team-mates in the world at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo parted ways in 2018 when the Portuguese decided to join Juventus. But in 2022, the French striker, now captain of Real Madrid, took the Madrid club to the Champions League. He ended up winning the Golden Ball, with Cristiano Ronaldo conspicuous by his absence.
Later, Karim Benzema said that Cristiano Ronaldo had not even sent him a congratulatory message after winning the Ballon d’Or. The final straw was Cristiano Ronaldo’s honest opinion in a question and answer session on his YouTube channel. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner preferred Kylian Mbappe to Karim Benzema, much to the dismay of fans.
Quand on parle, faut assumer ☄️ #alhamdulillah 🤲🏼🤍 pic.twitter.com/tBVu2qmiWz
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) December 6, 2024
KB9 automatically made a post on social networks to remind everyone of his unanimously acclaimed 2022 Ballon d’Or. It’s clear that the relationship between Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema has deteriorated over the years.
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