REAL MADRID
The players trying to replace Karim Benzema’s goals at Real Madrid
Since Benzema left for Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid have been looking to replace his goals.
More than 200 days (205 to be exact) have passed since Karim Benzema scored his last goal in a Real Madrid shirt before heading to Saudi Arabia to join Al Ittihad. Earlier this year, the Frenchman brought his splendid career with Real Madrid to an end, after 648 games and 354 goals. It was also his 23rd goal for the Chamartin club in the first half of the year, a record that nobody has surpassed six months later.
Rodrygo
It was Rodrygo who came closest to the Frenchman’s mark. The Brazilian, who has had a formidable end to the year with eight goals in his last 10 games for Los Blancos, has come within touching distance of the record. The Brazilian has 22 goals (in all competitions) and is just one short of matching Benzema’s tally. Despite not being a natural centre-forward, his quality in front of goal makes him an ideal candidate to play anywhere in Los Blancos’ attack. He has played on the right wing, as a false 9 and has replaced his compatriot Vinícius by playing on the left flank.
Vinícius
Vinícius is the third in the scoring ranking. The Brazilian, who is recovering from injury, scored 19 goals. Vini could have surpassed Benzema’s tally, but the two injuries he has suffered so far in the 2023-24 campaign (he has missed 11 games out of a possible 24 between league and Champions League) have prevented him from reaching that figure of 23 goals. In the first half of the year, he scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists, with stellar performances at Anfield against Liverpool (2-5), in which he was involved in four goals (he scored two, assisted another and was fouled for Militao’s goal), and against Barcelona at Camp Nou in the Copa del Rey semi-final, where he scored a goal, forced a penalty (converted by Benzema) and assisted the Frenchman. In this second half of the year, he has only scored six goals and four assists.
Jude Bellingham
Fourth on the list is Jude Bellingham. The Englishman only needed 21 games (he missed three) to win over the Madrid fans and his new teammates. He scored 17 goals and provided five assists in those 21 games. He has adapted superbly to life with Real Madrid in Spain.
On 3 January, Los Blancos begin the second half of the season. They take on Mallorca for what will be the starting point for a new calendar year.