Karim Benzema reveals what he had in mind when Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid

The Frenchman had even won the Ballon d’Or at the Spanish club.

Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid in 2018, Karim Benzema has disclosed the unique task he had set for himself.

After the Portuguese departed, Benzema was under extra pressure as Ronaldo had been the star player at the Santiago Bernabeu for almost ten years.

Although it took the France international time to show his credentials when the Portuguese left, Benzema did manage to live to up the expectations in the next season after enduring a poor 2020-21 campaign.

After scoring 44 goals in 46 games to help Madrid win the 2021–22 LaLiga and Champions League crowns, the Frenchman won the Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career in 2022.

The striker had set out to fill Ronaldo’s shoes, so that honour—a reward for a blistering season—was not given by accident.

“When Cristiano left, who had scored 50 goals, I said, Now it’s time to step up and that I was going to work for it because I have the talent, but now I have to have more ambition than before,” he told El Chiringuito. 

”It’s normal, it’s normal (embracing added responsibility). Gareth Bale, €100m, it’s a lot, he was a good player too, it was normal. But this is fine with me.”

I’m happy that Karim’s last image at Real Madrid is the one of a champion, a Ballon d’Or, and a captain.  I had the strength to continue but I preferred to leave like this, at the right time.”

In his final game for Real Madrid, Benzema scored a penalty kick as they drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao. Benzema scored 354 goals in 648 games with Real Madrid, including five Champions League titles, four LaLiga championships, and three Spanish Cups.

Real had set up a predetermined one-year extension to his contract in the hopes that Benzema would remain for another season. However, he ended his 14-year stint with the Spanish powerhouses in 2023 and approached his next task with the same level of zeal.

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