Benzema Attains Ronaldo De Lima’s Real Madrid Goal Tally
Real Madrid Forward, Karim Benzema says he is proud and elated to have matched his hero Ronaldo De Lima’s tally of 104 goals for Real Madrid.
Benzema, 26, reached the mark with a double in Saturday’s 4-2 La Liga win over Villarreal at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu while playing his 215th game, while Ronaldo, who played for Madrid from 2002-2007, reached the tally in just 177 matches.
Benzema who says he takes inspiration from Ronaldo and still studies videos of the former Madrid, Inter Milan and Barcelona forward to gain tips ahead of games, also told newsmen that it was “amazing” to now be on the same number of goals as one of the best players of all time.
“I am really happy because to reach a player of his size is simply amazing. Ronaldo is, for me, together with Zizou [Zinedine Zidane], the best player in history. I feel very proud to have been able to score the same number of goals, and this makes me work even harder now.
“He inspired me in many things,” the ex-Lyon player said. “First, the ease with which he scores goals of course. But I also learned a lot from him about movement in front of the opposition goal. I have followed Ronaldo since I was a boy, and before Madrid games I still watch videos of him playing.”
He also claimed that working daily with his fellow countryman and Madrid’s current assistant coach, Zidane was also helping him to improve as a player.
“Zizou is working very well with the whole team, but it is true that he and I have a great understanding in our day-to-day work, Zinedine is like my big brother. He speaks with me a lot, he advises me, and makes me do specific work in front of goal. And it works! For example, before the game against Villarreal, Zidane recommended I move a lot to the near post, and that was how I scored my first goal.”
Benzema, who has been hailed by Madrid fans for his recent performances, says he has moved on completely from the period earlier in the season when he was whistled inside the Bernabeu, with supporters and pundits calling for him to be dropped for youngster Alvaro Morata.
“Physically I am better now, but I believe the problem was more of confidence, I was able to create many chances but the ball was just not going in… That is all forgotten now. I feel really good about everything I do on the pitch. And I also enjoy giving passes to my teammates. I just hope things continue like this