Karim Benzema has equaled Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal record in the Champions League. He carved this record after being a hero for Real Madrid to qualify for the 2021-2022 Champions League final.
Yes, Benzema has just become a Real Madrid hero in defeating Manchester City dramatically in the 2021-2022 Champions League semifinal second leg match. The match was held at the Santiago Bernabeu, Thursday (5/5/2022).
Karim Benzema’s penalty goal in extra time (95′) ensured Los Blancos – Real Madrid’s nickname – to the final. Thanks to a late goal from the French striker, Madrid ended the match with a score of 3-1. This result was enough to take them to the final because they were superior on aggregate score with 6-5.
Karim Benzema’s goal in the match against Man City further sharpened his record in this 2021-2022 season. Now, he has scored 15 goals!
Benzema also sits at the top of the top scorer list, ahead of Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) who scored 13 goals. However, it is certain that Benzema’s position cannot be pursued by Lewandowski again because Bayern have been eliminated from the Champions League.
Of the 15 goals that Karim Benzema has scored, 10 of them have been in the knockout stages of the Champions League this season. No doubt, this record has brought Benzema to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record. Reporting from the official UEFA website, Ronaldo is still the top scorer in the Champions League knockout stages.
CR7 – Ronaldo’s nickname – scored 10 goals in the Champions League knockout phase in the 2016-2017 season when he was still in Real Madrid’s uniform.
He scored two goals in the first leg of the quarter-final against Bayern, then he scored a hat-trick in a row in the second leg of the quarter-final against Bayern and the first leg of the semifinal against Atletico Madrid.
Ronaldo scored two other goals in the final against Juventus. Thanks to this goal, Real Madrid also came out as champions in the 2016-2017 Champions League.
Now, Ronaldo’s impressive record can be carved by Benzema. In fact, Benzema has the opportunity to pass that record because he still has 1 game left. With his big role so far, will Benzema also follow in Ronaldo’s footsteps in the 2016-17 season, by bringing Madrid to victory?
It’s interesting to look forward to the 2021-2022 Champions League final. In the final, Real Madrid will meet Liverpool. This match will be held at the Stade de France, France on Sunday 29 May 2022.
