Karim Benzema rejects former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo's claim, says 'best in history is Ronaldo from Brazil'

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema played for nine seasons together at Real Madrid and worked to deliver copious amounts of success with the Spanish giants. Despite often being in-sync on the pitch, they disagree on their opinions of the best footballer to have ever played the game. Ronaldo thinks it is himself, but Benzema has dismissed his claim, favouring a Brazilian legend instead.

Ronaldo kicks ball away in anger after Duran red card

Video credit: SNTV

Karim Benzema has rejected Cristiano Ronaldo’s claims that he is the best player to have ever played the game.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner made the boastful admission during an interview with Spanish outlet El Chiringuito earlier this month.

Ronaldo said: "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.

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"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 has a Ballon d’Or of his own - played alongside Ronaldo for nine seasons at Real Madrid.

Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale

Image credit: Getty Images

The pair rank first and second in the all-time record goalscorers list for the Spanish giants, with Ronaldo on top after finding the net 451 times in 438 competitive appearances.

Benzema struck 354 times in 648 games during his time at the Bernabeu.

Well-placed to give an opinion on his former teammate, the French striker not only denied Ronaldo is the best player of all time but he also said he is not even the best player with that name to play the game.

"I think everyone can say what they want," Benzema told 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.

"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," Benzema added.

Benzema now plays in Saudi Arabia, where he captains Al-Ittihad, and he will come up against Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr later in the season, with the teams next due to play each other in May.

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