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Zinedine Zidane says Real Madrid star is like Cristiano Ronaldo after Champions League win
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema scored his 50th Champions League goal for the club this week.
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has compared Karim Benzema to Cristiano Ronaldo after the striker reached a Champions League milestone.
Real beat Galatasaray 6-0 on Wednesday night during which Benzema grabbed himself two goals.
The 31-year-old scored his first on the stroke of half-time before netting his second with nine minutes remaining.
The two goals takes Benzema’s Champions League tally to 50 goals in the competition for Real.
He's now like Cristiano Ronaldo in the history of this club
And after the game Real’s manager boss Zinedine Zidane compared the Frenchman to his former Real team-mate Ronaldo.
"I'm very happy for Karim,” Zidane said after the dominant performance at the Bernabeu.
“It's true that he's overtaken a legend of this club like Alfredo di Stefano. He's now like Cristiano Ronaldo in the history of this club.
“He's doing something amazing and we simply have to enjoy it and make the most of it."
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Benzema, now has scored 62 goals in the competition, with 12 coming from his time at Lyon, and is only nine off another Real legend, Raul, who sits third in the all-time rankings on 71 goals.
And while Zidane might feel his veteran striker is on the same level as Ronaldo, the 34-year-old Juventus striker is currently leading the rankings on 127 Champions League goals.
Of those, 15 came during his time at Manchester United, 105 were scored while at Real and seven have come his way since he made the switch to Turin.
Either way Zidane was still full of praise for Benzema after the demolition of Galatasaray.
"His numbers speak for themselves,” said Zidane.
“Those that like football know he's a quality player.
He's important for the team, for attacking... he does it very well.
“The only thing that's changed since Cristiano Ronaldo [left for Juventus] is that Karim is more mature.
“He's a father and well... many things have happened lately which are reflected on the pitch.”