Arsene Wenger believes Karim Benzema shedding weight and becoming a 'real athlete' has led the Real Madrid striker to become one of the world's best.
The France international netted his 15th Champions League goal of the season as Carlo Ancelotti's side secured a dramatic semi-final comeback victory over Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez's opener seemed to have booked an all-English final to face Liverpool, only for a two-minute double salvo from substitute Rodrygo to turn the tie on its head.
Benzema scored the winner from the penalty spot in extra time to seal a 6-5 aggregate victory to cap another fine performance. The 34-year-old is is enjoying arguably the best season of his career in terms of goalscoring, netting 43 times in 43 appearances.
Analysing the semi-final success, Wenger compared Benzema's game to the impressive output of fellow veteran strikers Robert Lewandowski and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Arsenal legend believes the French forward's improvement in recent seasons stems from his decision to cut up to three kilograms in weight.
Wnger told beIN SPORTS: "I would say he's a demonstration of intelligence and efficiency. Everything he does is intelligent, and it looks simple. When I see him play, I think I could do the same! We know all that he does is exceptional, and he uses always the right surface to be the most efficient. He slows down to accelerate, he accelerates and slows down. He smells the rhythm of the game like nobody else, and it is something interesting we see across Europe now is the oldest strikers are the most efficient.
"Lewandowski, Benzema, Ibrahimovic, all these players score goals at 40 or 35. The best strikers in Europe are all over 30-years-old because they use every mistake of the opponent. I would say Benzema until 30, I think he had two or three kilos too many. Now he's a real athlete, and that's why today certainly he is one of the two or three best strikers in the world."
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Benzema has often been overshadowed by his fellow Galacticos since signing from Lyon in 2009, but is now closing in on second-placed Raul's place in the club's all-time scoring list. The in-form forward has registered a return of more than 20 La Liga goals in each of the last four seasons and his haul of 15 goals - only two shy of Ronaldo's record of 17 in a single campaign - reflects his new-found elite status in Madrid.
Real Madrid will meet Liverpool in Paris on May 28 in a repeat of the 2017-18 final, where a Gareth Bale double helped secure a third straight Champions League crown. The La Liga giants also emerged victorious over Jurgen Klopp's side in the quarter-final stage of last year's competition.
Vinicius Jr scored twice in a comfortable 3-1 first leg victory in the Spanish capital, while the Reds were unable to overturn the two-goal deficit with an Anfield stalemate in the return fixture. However, Klopp's side this season remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple, with a one-point deficit in the Premier League to overcome and an FA Cup final clash with Chelsea.
