Friday, March 29News That Matters

Karim Benzema reveals Ronaldo snub that hints at Real Madrid feud

Karim Benzema has confirmed he is still yet to receive congratulations on his Ballon d’Or win from former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Benzema won the coveted prize for the first time last month, becoming only the second player aside from Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to do so since the year 2018. Ronaldo meanwhile finished in 20th.




Speaking to French outlet Telefoot, Benzema was asked if he had been in contact with Ronaldo since winning the award. He responded: “No, not yet.”

Relations between the duo are unclear although there are suggestions they are no longer the close pals they once were at the Bernabeu.

The pair formed part of Real’s superb attack that helped the club win four Champions League in five seasons, before the Portuguese left for Juventus in 2018.




Benzema credited Ronaldo’s departure with helping him win the Ballon d’Or after stepping out of the shadow of his former teammate.

The France striker said: “It was an honour to play with him. The day he left, the ambition to be a better player then entered my head. Since he left, I’ve been motivated to do more things on the pitch.”

The pair were close during their time together in the Spanish La Liga and last year, Jose Mourinho claimed Ronaldo was ‘in love’ with Benzema during his time as Real manager.




He revealed: “For Cristiano to be in love with another attacking player means he does a lot for Cristiano — and he does a lot for every attacking player that plays around him.”

Benzema had a different way of putting it, although he admits they “got on well” and enjoyed playing together. Speaking in 2017, he said: “I score goals but when there is someone beside me who scores 50 goals a year.

“He is more egotistical than me but that’s normal, it doesn’t bother me. In the end, it’s good for the team.”

Ronaldo was full of praise for his teammate during his time at Santiago Bernabeu and did describe him as one of the best strikers in the world after Benzema came in for huge criticism for his lack of goals in 2014.

He is yet to reach out after Benzema reached the pinnacle of his career last month, although as we have seen with Gary Neville in recent weeks, Ronaldo is not all that close to some of his former teammates.

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