Karim Benzema has admitted it will be “impossible” for him to reach the goalscoring heights Cristiano Ronaldo scaled at Real Madrid.
The Frenchman was named UEFA men’s Player of the Year at Thursday’s Champions League group stage draw ceremony following his 15-goal haul during Real’s successful European campaign last season.
Having already netted twice this season, Benzema now has 325 goals for Los Blancos in 608 outings. And 132 have come after Ronaldo’s 2018 exit, leading some to suggest the 34-year-old had to change his game to allow the Portugal star to take the limelight during their nine-year partnership.
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After collecting the award on Thursday, the attacker insisted he hasn’t altered his playing style since the Manchester United hero’s departure from the Bernabeu. He also said he would never be able to replicate the 450 goals Ronaldo scored in 438 Real games.
Speaking to European Sports Media (via Marca ), Benzema said: " Cristiano helped me a lot. With him I had another role and when he left, I knew I could take a step forward in scoring goals, but still playing football.
"What has changed since then is my goal tally, but I'm still playing the way I think you have to play this game. The figures mean I'm not far behind the Real Madrid legends, and that gives me confidence, even though I know that reaching Cristiano's goal [figures] is impossible.”
He added: "That's why I focus on what I can do on the pitch to help the team win. Numbers are not the most important thing. I don't play thinking only about titles or goals.
"I play because I love football, although I do have dreams, of course, like winning the World Cup or a Ballon d'Or."
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