Karim Benzema dismisses the assertion made by his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, stating that the greatest of all time is the Brazilian Ronaldo.

Karim Benzema has firmly rejected Cristiano Ronaldo’s bold assertion that he is the greatest player to have ever graced the football pitch. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made headlines earlier this month during an interview with Spanish outlet El Chiringuito, where he proclaimed his own superiority.

Ronaldo stated, “I honestly haven’t seen anyone better than me. You have to look at the numbers, full stop. I believe I am the most complete player who has ever existed. It’s me. I do everything in football. I play well in terms of heading the ball, I’m good at free-kicks, I’m good with my left foot, I’m quick, I’m strong, I jump. I am the best player ever, I believe that.”

Benzema, who also boasts a Ballon d’Or trophy, spent nine illustrious seasons alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid. The duo holds the top two spots in the all-time goalscoring charts for the Spanish giants, with Ronaldo leading the way after netting an astonishing 451 goals in 438 competitive appearances. Benzema, meanwhile, found the back of the net 354 times in 648 matches during his tenure at the Bernabeu.

In a position to offer a unique perspective on his former teammate, Benzema not only dismissed Ronaldo’s claim to the title of the greatest player of all time but also suggested that he isn’t even the best player named Ronaldo. “I think everyone can say what they want,” Benzema remarked to reporters. “If he thinks he is the best in history, then he is. It depends, for me, for example, the best is Ronaldo from Brazil.”

Benzema continued, “I don’t like to make comparisons between players; each one has their own story. He (Cristiano) has his own, and it’s a very good one.”

Currently, Benzema is plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, where he captains Al-Ittihad. The French striker is set to face off against Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr later in the season, with the highly anticipated clash scheduled for May. As the rivalry continues to simmer, fans will be eager to see how these two footballing icons fare against each other once again.