Praise for the historic partnership with Ronaldo
French star Karim Benzema, striker for Saudi club Al-Ittihad, has revisited the golden era he spent alongside Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. In recent remarks during a live broadcast, Benzema emphasized the profound impact Ronaldo, currently captain of Al-Nassr, had on his career, describing playing alongside him as a unique learning experience.
Benzema said: “It was great playing with Cristiano Ronaldo. I learned a lot from him, like his movement inside the penalty area and his pressing, especially since he was scoring 50 goals a season.” These words reflect the deep professional respect between two of the most prominent strikers of the last decade, who together formed one of the most formidable attacking partnerships in football history.
Historical context: Nine years of winning titles
The partnership between Benzema and Ronaldo spanned nine years (2009-2018) at the Santiago Bernabéu, a period that witnessed Real Madrid's absolute dominance on the European stage. During this era, the duo led the team to 16 titles, most notably four UEFA Champions League trophies, including a historic three consecutive titles. This partnership was characterized by a remarkable understanding, with Benzema brilliantly adapting to the role of a supporting striker, creating space and providing crucial passes, which allowed Ronaldo to become Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer. Today, their rivalry is renewed in the Saudi Professional League, adding a new dimension to their shared history and further enhancing the league's popularity regionally and globally.
A surprising critique of Real Madrid and a comparison with Paris Saint-Germain
In a controversial part of his interview, Benzema compared his former team, Real Madrid, to Paris Saint-Germain, implicitly criticizing the Spanish club's style of play. He said, "Paris Saint-Germain is one of the best teams in the world right now. On paper, they have fewer big names than Real Madrid, but what sets PSG apart is that the starting lineup plays, and when the coach makes a substitution, the substitutes perform better. Everyone knows their role and what they have to contribute." He added, in a critical tone, "While at Real Madrid, they don't play as a team and they don't communicate well enough." These statements sparked widespread debate among Real Madrid fans, especially coming from a player considered one of the club's modern legends.
Future plans: between coaching Lyon and returning to the French national team
Regarding his future after retirement, Benzema ruled out a return to his boyhood club, Olympique Lyonnais, as a player, but expressed a strong desire to return as a youth coach. He explained: “I would like to start by coaching young players because I don’t like their current training methods. I want to be close to them and explain my vision of football.” On the international stage, Benzema did not close the door on a return to the French national team, linking this possibility to Zinedine Zidane taking over as coach of “Les Bleus” after the 2026 World Cup, and affirming that he would do his utmost to maintain his physical fitness to achieve this goal.
