'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwT/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMlKJW//xAAeEAEAAgEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEABITISMyk//aAAgBAQABPwDhxsTBot2XbbiMpQhYA8j0Kj66jjUoPm+mv//EABkRAQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAAQQRUf/aAAgBAgEBPwDHVpPfZ//EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADESL/2gAIAQMBAT8AZmQ//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema reacted to current Los Blancos attacker Vinicius Junior's brilliant exploits in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday (October 22).
The reigning European champions found themselves two goals down at the break against Borussia Dortmund at home. They were 45 minutes away from back-to-back defeats in the competitions, having been upset 1-0 at LOSC Lille on matchday two.
However, Antonio Rudiger kickstarted their comeback before Vinicius struck within two minutes to restore parity. After Lucas Vazquez put Madrid in front seven minutes from time, Vinicius bagged a four-minute brace to complete his hat-trick.
Trending
The 24-year-old is one of the top contenders for the 2024 Ballon d'Or - the winner of which will be announced in Paris on October 28. Vinicius contributed 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 outings across competitions as Los Blancos won three titles. That includes a second La Liga-UEFA Champions League double in three years.
Following his three-goal burst against BvB in midweek, Vinicius posted a picture of himself on Instagram with the message (as translated from Spanish):
"We are Real Madrid"
Among many of his former and current teammates to comment on the post was 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Benzema, who simply wrote:
"Ballon d'Or" (followed by three fire emojis)
Players who commented on the post include Vinicius' current Los Blancos teammates Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo Goes, Endrick, Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga, among others.
How Karim Benzema fared for Real Madrid
Karim Benzema enjoyed a hugely successful 14-season stint at Real Madrid since arriving from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2009. In 648 appearances across competitions, the 36-year-old registered 354 goals and 165 assists.
The tally is only behind club record scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who amassed 450 strikes in a staggering 438 games across competitions between 2009 and 2018. Benzema assumed a more prominent role in Los Blancos' attack after Ronaldo's departure to Juventus in the summer of 2018.
The 2022 Ballon d'Or winner won a rich haul of 25 trophies with Los Blancos, including five UEFA Champions League and four La Liga titles. Benzema's most prolific season at the club was in 2021-22, when he amassed 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 games across competitions as Los Blancos won the La Liga-UEFA Champions League double.
Benzema left Los Blancos last summer and now plies his trade with Saudi Pro League giants Al-Ittihad.
