The prestigious France Football has opened an interesting debate in France: “Is Benzema (already) the best French striker in history?” The publication launches this question taking advantage of a moment in which Benzema has entered the Top-5 of the highest scorers in the history of the Champions League and has become the foreigner with the most games in the history of Real Madrid (527). To that we must add an enviable record: four Champions League, seven Leagues (three from Spain and four from France), four Club World Cups …
In the debate, France Football compares him with four greats in the history of soccer in the neighboring country: Henry, Papin, Platini and Kopa. The only one holding his pulse, according to the publication, is Henry, whose merits also impress. The former Arsenal and Barça, among other teams, he won the World Cup and the European Championship with France, a selection of which he is still the top scorer (51 goals). In addition, they won the Premier twice and the Spanish League twice. Also on one occasion the Champions League and Ligue 1.
Precisely those merits with the French team is the section where Benzema loses in the comparisons, because he has been absent for years after the controversy with Valbuena that caused Deschamps to remove him from the calls. The relationship between the coach and the player is broken and the Madridista had to watch from television how his teammates lifted the 2018 World Cup. It is precisely with France Platini's strong point: nine goals in the 1984 Euro Cup. To that we must add three Ballons d'Or, a section where Benzema has always been overshadowed by Cristiano and Messi throughout his career.
For now, the French are clear: with more than 4,000 votes the “yes” wins with 71% of the votes, while only 29% of voters choose “no”. Therefore, despite his absences with the national team, in France they value everything Benzema has achieved with Real Madrid and they already consider him the best striker in the history of their country …