Benzema admitted how Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid helped him. Will he break Marcelo’s record?

Karim Benzema has long been in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo. After his departure, however, he became the main driving force behind Real Madrid and is now one of the best players on the planet. Now he has admitted how the Portuguese star’s departure has helped him.

The French striker is having the season of his life at the age of 34. As captain, he led Real Madrid to victory in both the league and the Champions League. He was also top scorer in both competitions. Over the course of the season, he scored 44 competitive goals and assisted a further 15.

Overall, Karim Benzema has been the main driving force of the Spanish giant especially since Cristiano Ronaldo left the team. It was in the shadow of the Portuguese that he spent many years. And he is aware of it. However, he is defending Ronaldo.

“It’s true that I’ve scored more goals since he left, but when he was here I had assists for a change. Ronaldo helped me a lot on and off the pitch. But I knew I could do more. When he left, it was time to change my game and my ambitions and so far it’s going well,” Goal quotes Benzema as saying.

Before Ronaldo left, only twice did Benzema cross the 20 league goals mark. Since then, however, he has done so in all four seasons. In total, he has netted 131 competitive goals since the Portuguese’s departure.

He is currently considered by many to be the best footballer on the planet. He is currently one of the biggest favourites to win the Ballon d’Or.

“I’m not going to say whether I’m the best or not. But every year I try to do my best for the best club in the world. I have to play at a high level. Last season was very good. I’m trying to help my team,” the Frenchman let it be known.

Benzema has won 22 team trophies with Real Madrid. He is quite close to his friend and former teammate’s record. Marcelo has won 25 trophies with the Spanish club. However, the former Lyon player himself says he is not thinking about this record.

But he is clear about one thing. He wants to win as many trophies as possible with Real Madrid. Moreover, he considers team trophies more important than individual ones.

Source: Goal, Transfermarkt